iShares Cup in Lugano - News and Videos

Lake Lugano, Switzerland - British skipper Shirley Robertson and her crew on JPMorgan Asset Management were the stars at this years iShares Cup in Lugano. The only female racing in the circuit, Shirley took three wins in a row on the second day of racing on the lake, bringing her crew out on top for the first event of the iShares Cup.

As a two time Olympic gold medal winner, Shirley Robertson's experience was a valuable asset for her crew, which she clearly showed as she beat some of the best of the America's Cup and Olympic catamaran sailors. A real team player, she credited her crew member Chris Main for getting to grips with the conditions of the day, saying "My tactician has nerves of steel!

"For a three day event I feel like we’ve been racing for a fortnight, I’m quite exhausted," said Shirley after the last race on the lake. "Today was quite hard work, it felt like we didn’t really get any breaks or sail all that well. Then waiting to see if there was going to be a last race or whether they were going to call it off, the nerves have been going today.

But I’m absolutely thrilled, my team’s done a fantastic job. It’s a pleasure to sail with them and fantastic to sail with new tactician Chris Main, he hardly put a foot wrong. Really enjoyed it and can’t wait till the next one!"

Shirley welcomed the Alinghi crew back to the startline after their capsize: "I think all the competitors really felt for Alinghi, it could have been any of us. It's good to see them back out today and great to be racing against them."

Although Alinghi managed to get back on the course, the team couldn't seem to gain momentum around the lake on Day 2 of the iShares Cup. "We have found ourselves in a little bit in trouble off the starting line each time for a variety of reasons, but we have been able to catch up as the race went on, but at some point you run out of time." said an Alinghi crew member.

Can Shirley and her crew hold on to their iShares Cup lead in Hyère? We'll have to wait 'til June 13th to find out.

JPMorgan Asset Management win the first event of the 2008 iShares Cup. (L-R) skipper Shirley Robertson, Fraser Brown, Nick Hutton & Chris Main. Photos: Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events

Video: Shirley Robertson at the iShares Cup

Video: JPMorgan Asset Management win Lugano event

iShares Lugano, Switzerland
JP Morgan Asset Management	1	5	1	1	1	1	2	DNF	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	77
Team Origin	2	3	2	5	DNF	2	1	4	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	67
BT	3	4	4	5	6	3	DNF	1	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	64
Oman Sail	4	1	3	2	3	9	DNF	DSQ	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60
Alinghi	DNF	DNS	DNS	4	4	5	5	6	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	51
iShares	7	7	DNF	5	2	8	3	2	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	50
Holmatro	OCS	6	7	8	5	7	DNF	5	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	46
Team Aqua	6	DNF	5	3	7	6	4	DNF	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	41
Volvo Ocean Race	5	2	6	9	8	4	DNF	3	DNF	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	40
Tommy Hilfiger	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0

Video: Lugano Highlights - The first iShares Cup event of 2008 in Lugano. Shirley Robertson skipper and crew on JPMorgan Asset Management win.