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Time has never been on the side of the new Bribon. The Rolf Vrolijk design was the last of the new 2007 build TP52s to be commissioned and was completed in something close to record time by King Marine in Valencia.

Launched only 13 days before the start of the regatta, with only four days sailing prior to the first start guns of the Trofeo Alicante, on Sunday the crew of Bribon counted the clock down once again, but this time it went more slowly.

When the 15:00 time limit was finally reached and the last opportunity for racing today expired with it, Bribon became the winners of the Trofeo Alicante, the first regatta of the 2007 Breitling MedCup circuit.

King Set For Return

While Bribon's skipper, HM King Juan Carlos of Spain, could not sail at this regatta, he will return and is expected to do some steering at the next Breitling MedCup regatta, the Regatta Breitling in Portals next month

'When we saw the wind drop. By two o'clock we knew it was not going to happen but it was just a case of keeping on concentrating until the end,' said Bouwe BEKKING (NED), the former movistar skipper, 'This morning I had just told the guys we should go out today and enjoy it no matter what happened. It is a surprise for us to be here because we were so late with the boat. When you only have two days sailing before you come here and some of the crew only saw the boat here for the first time, then you do not really expect to win the first regatta, so I just wanted us to enjoy it.

'We have a bloody nice owner and he deserves this. The King called him and sent his best to all of us, he is very happy.'

'We have just got better and better each race, getting to know the boat. We have a massive job list to get through, but the boat is definitely quick and this shows we have pace,' concluded BEKKING.

No Racing

The race officers made a valiant attempt to get a race away on Sunday, but two general recalls thwarted their efforts and very quickly the 7 knot southeasterly gradient breeze died away to just a whisper.

While Bribon topped the 23-boat fleet which turned out for this first regatta of the season, and also lifted th e Santa Monica Trophy for the best performance over the two coastal races, Peter DE RIDDER's (NED) Valle Romano Mean Machine won the Corinthian Trophy, taking second place overall with the 2005 champion crew of Vasco VASCOTTO (ITA) aboard their new Botin & Carkeek designed Mutua Madrilena finishing third overall.

'It is going to be so hard this year, with lots of ups and downs. Bribon winning with a sixth place average across the regatta proves that,' said DE RIDDER.