PRADA ACWS AUCKLAND RACE 9 SUMMARY

Start: 1620
Port: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
Starboard: INEOS TEAM UK
Course: 6
Axis: 016
Length: 1.78nm
Current: 1.3 knots @ 333
Wind 8-12 knots
Winner Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli 

As the race boats headed out to the course there were questions about how the weather would play out. With a forecast for light breezes and the race area positioned to the leeward of Rangitoto, the concern was that the breeze would prove fickle in the lee of the island.

As it happened, the issue that caused the biggest delay was the popularity of the event itself that had drawn a huge flotilla of spectators on the water. Clearing the area proved challenging and time consuming but eventually the first race of the day got under way just over an hour later than planned.

The pre-start saw both boats enter on time and at speed but there was no tactical engagement between the two.

Instead, as the clock counted down to the start Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (ITA) and INEOS TEAM UK (GBR) both chose to line up on starboard for a perfectly timed start.

As the pair headed out to the left-hand side of the course Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were to windward and were inching out an advantage over INEOS TEAM UK.

The first tack came from Sir Ben Ainslie’s team, the Italians followed suit to cover them. A few minutes later INEOS TEAM UK tacked back onto starboard, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli followed to maintain their cover and so the pattern continued to the top mark. Each time the Italians squeezed out more distance and rounded the first gate 30 seconds ahead.

After that the race was a one sided affair and as the breeze dropped the British team struggled to stay on the foils.

As Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli rounded the gate at the bottom of the course for their last beat to the shortened race, (finishing at the windward gate on leg 5), they were a full leg ahead of INEOS TEAM UK who remained stuck in the water, unable to fly.

By the finish the Italians who hadn’t experienced any flight problems were almost 2 legs ahead.