LIVE FROM JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA: RACEDAY 1
‘Al Salamou Alaykoum’ from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for race day one of the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM.
Morning conditions have been light but the promise of a sea-breeze from the north-west means we can expect conditions to build through the afternoon with expected windspeeds of around 8-10 knots and a flat sea-state, here on the Red Sea. It's warm today with the mercury touching 32 degrees.
For the America’s Cup sailors, the greatest foilers on the planet, it will be all about maintaining flight through the marginal patches and changing sail trim to keep the power on. A premium will be placed on smooth transitions through the tacks and gybes and, as we saw yesterday, any fall off the foils is a race-ruining situation with positions quickly lost.
Eyes out of the boat to spot pressure is a must and again as in the Official Practice Races, the trimmers who are sitting behind the helmsmen will be elevated more than usual, looking forward at the wind patterns to provide the most valuable of information.
The dockside chatter is all about who will win, who’s fast, who’s ‘on-it’ and it’s an impossible conundrum. Both Emirates Team New Zealand and NYYC American Magic showed flashes of incredible speed yesterday, but INEOS Britannia really applied the pressure with outstanding boat-handling aligned with outright speed. Alinghi Red Bull Racing showed great front-running when ahead with superb technique and consistency whilst Orient Express Racing, despite having a debilitating hydraulic issue, were always up at the front of the fleet. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, with their young and talented helming pairing, had speed to burn and tactical nous so it’s all to play for in this desperatley-close one-design AC40 fleet.
The greatest sailors in the world are ready to do battle. We have three races with scheduled starts times at 1.43pm, 2.25pm and 3.02pm (local time in Jeddah). Battery changes will occur between Race 1 and Race 2.
You can follow the live blog of the races here:
12.30-12.50pm: The AC40s are released from the Jeddah Yacht Club Marina and all set J1 jibs. INEOS Britannia remain shoreside solving a technical issue.
12.52pm: INEOS Britannia clear to launch.
JEDDAH RACE 1
Updates Coming Soon...