CRITICAL START TO ROUND ROBIN TWO OF THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP
We are straight back into action on day one of the do-or-die second Round Robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup with an opening day blockbuster between Alinghi Red Bull Racing and Orient Express Racing Team. For the Swiss, it is quite simply a must-win race and, as the only team not to score a point in the first Round Robin, the sands of time in this competition are relentless.
Meanwhile in the French camp there is growing anticipation. A win in this race could potentially, if results continue as in Round Robin one, secure a place in the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, which would be a remarkable effort considering their late entry to the competition.
Aside from the battle at the foot of the standings, we also have some brilliant racing in the schedule with another titanic Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli battle, a fascinating NYYC American Magic vs. INEOS Britannia line-up, before the day's concluding race between Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Orient Express Racing Team.
Weather conditions, however, could be a major factor today with Iain Murray, Regatta Director, reporting on some variance in the wind modelling. The mean average looks to be showing around 7-10 knots from the north-east initially but with the possibility of more wind and switch to the north west, as well as the outside chance of thunderstorms – all of which potentially could make racing challenging, depending on what materialises across the racecourse area.
CHECK BACK HERE FOR LIVE RACE REPORT UPDATES FROM THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP, STARTING AT 14:00 CET:
Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Port Entry) vs. Orient Express Racing Team
Huge pressure on both teams, at the start it’s a dip-start from above the line from Orient Express and early advantage to Alinghi Red Bull Racing who capitalise and make the first cross. A bit ragged from the French – these are tense early exchanges. The Swiss stretch into an immediate lead of over 240 metres (and building) with the French struggling for consistency up the first beat and then falling off the foils mid-beat, losing the rudder completely on the exit of a tack, and struggling to get back into flight. The Swiss round with a huge lead of some one minute and 38 seconds and hit over 43 knots on the bear-away.
Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin look full of confidence in their AC75 and keep it smooth down the first run under no pressure other than self-generated, as they know if they can just hold this together then a vital, vital point will be won. At the second windward mark, having bounced up the left side of the course to make the starboard layline, Alinghi Red Bull Racing round with a lead of one minute and 15 seconds and the French desperately trying to claw their way back into the race. The Swiss look assured and round out the final leeward mark with no mistakes to lead by one minute and 12 seconds, leaving the French praying for a miracle.
It doesn’t come. The Swiss sail a solid final beat, round the top mark with a healthy one minute and 5 second lead, and sail a clean leg to the finish winning by one minute and 10 seconds. Great win for Alinghi Red Bull racing – a huge momentum booster – as they chalk up their first win of the Louis Vuitton Cup, just when it mattered.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing bt. Orient Express Racing Team by 1 minute and 10 seconds
Emirates Team New Zealand (Port Entry) vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
All the portents are for fireworks here as the high-scoring heavyweights of the Louis Vuitton Cup go toe-to-toe. A super-aggressive start by the Italians, powering over the Kiwis in the final seconds on the lead back-in before heading up hard on the starting line leaving no place to go for Emirates Team New Zealand other than into an immediate tack. The execution was poor, with the Kiwis struggling to control a skid, and they fell off their foils to hand a massive advantage to the Italians. But the race was far from over – exacerbated by a big broach from Luna Rossa on an exit to a tack that allowed Emirates Team New Zealand to close the delta down to just 16 seconds at the first windward mark. Can the Kiwis catch up – this will be fascinating – especially with the wind shifting wildly in a very dynamic weather pattern over the racecourse.
At the first leeward mark, Luna Rossa was up to 17 seconds in the lead and immediately upon rounding the Kiwis tacked to get separation and then went into super-high mode to close the gauge on the covering Italians. This race has the feeling of going all the way to the wire. At the second windward mark, Luna Rossa is comfortable after a sterling beat where they played the shifts (almost 30 degrees at times) well in the final quarter, with a lead now up to 23 seconds. A loose gybe cover down the second run, whilst playing the pressure patches as the breeze drops to sub 10 knots, brings Luna Rossa into the final leeward gate with an unassailable 31 second lead and there are no mistakes up the final beat as Luna Rossa slaps a tight cover on the Kiwis to round the final windward mark with the delta out to 59 seconds in wind dropping to just eight knots as the weather front passes out into the Mediterranean Sea.
Demonstration sailing from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, however, on the way downwind to the finishing line amidst a rainstorm and rumbling thunder. When a significant lightning strike was seen just a few hundred metres down the racecourse ahead of the yachts Emirates Team New Zealand sailed outside the boundary immediately and was disqualified before the Race Committee awarded the race win to Luna Rossa and cancelled all further racing for the day. Dramatic stuff to conclude a great race.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli bt. Emirates Team New Zealand (DSQ)
