With confirmation this week that Iberdrola will campaign a Spanish entry, the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit are looking forward to an inaugural season for the Soto 40 class starting with at least six boats representing six different nations at the first regatta of the season in May.
Iberdrola’s Soto 40 will be skippered by past J80 World Champion Jose María “Pichu” Torcida, and is due to take its place in a starting line up alongside boats from Italy, Great Britain, Argentina, Brazil and possibly other international collaborations.
Of the five boats which are being built at M Boats in Argentina for European owners, the fifth is expected to be allocated this week and the first of this batch of new boats is currently being delivered to Europe.
The fleet will feature a strong mix of amateur and professional sailors, the class rules requiring a sailor who is not a professional to steer the boat and carefully limiting the costs of campaigning this rapidly growing class.
The formative European fleet will be joined by some of the Soto 40’s from the class’s native Argentina including Patagonia of Norberto Alvarez Vitale, presidente and founder of the class, and Juan Balll’s Negra
“We are very happy with the level of interest which has been forthcoming despite the slightly uncertain economic situation still around the globe. The class is clearly appealing to the owners which felt it would do and is set to bring a class which is very much complementary to the TP52 Series, attracting exciting new blood for the coming season.” Said Nacho Postigo, Technical Audi MedCup Circuit Director.
The Soto 40 Class programme on the Audi MedCup Circuit will mirror the schedule of the TP52 Series. The Soto 40 will not compete on the coastal races, but will instead continue with a diet of windward-leeward races.
Iberdrola’s crew line up, as published, includes:
Nano Negrín, Juan Luís Páez, Gustavo Vilariño, Oliver Góngora, Javier de la Plaza, Carlos Ruigómez, Guillermo Poncinibio and Yago Lange.
