PRADA ACWS AUCKLAND , DAY TWO QUOTES FROM THE CREW
Spectacular races on the second day of the PRADA America's Cup World Series Auckland: start on schedule, with winds fluctuating around 12 knots. Wide attendance from the public both in the water and the America's Cup Village. The standings see American Magic and Emirates Team New Zealand on top with three points, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team with two, and INEOS TEAM UK with zero points.
On this second day, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and New York Yacht Club American Magic met twice on the water, and won a race each, showing similar speeds.
Emirates Team New Zealand has defeated INEOS TEAM UK twice, two victories that allow the Kiwis to reach the top of the standing with American Magic. Good news for Britannia, who completes both races, managing to stay ahead for a good portion of the second race.
The press conference was, as always, very interesting. Here the quotes:
Jimmy Spithill, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team, helmsman
On tuning boats : “It’s a new class: as the crews get more time, we get more comfortable, and as time goes on the teams get more aggressive and closer to each other. The Kiwis are a big step ahead of the Challengers, whoever comes out of the Challenger has a big gap to bridge. You need boat speed to beat the Kiwis. There's heaps of boat speed left. We have an advantage on getting the PRADA Cup to practice that the Kiwis don't get, and you always can push harder when you are racing another boat, that you don't get when you practice on your own. We will do everything we can do get there.”
On penalties at the start: Jimmy: "During the prestart - we tried to get a penalty back from American Magic, and they did a great manoeuvre to come back. We didn't execute our manoeuvre as well as we could have, and we are looking at it. If we executed it well we would have been off the penalty: lots to learn."
Paul Goodison, New York Yacht Club American Magic, mainsail trimmer
on almost capsizing: “On the first race, the button was pressed but the board did not come up. The team battled hard to come back, and it was a great work by the team. The conditions were very shifty, unstable venue with changing winds."
On sail area: “We are exploring with the more and less sail area. Obviously, there's gains in both end of the spectrum, in the high wind range if you carry less sail area you get to go faster, and it's easier to control, but you can get caught out. We are learning more and it's interesting to see where they will end up”.
Sir Ben Ainslie INEOS TEAM UK, Team Principal & Skipper
On gaining speed: “We got a bit to work on, but it was a much better day for the team. We got a clean performance, but main concern is to have to close that gap, and we will aim to improve."
The start box much tighter today, all teams were struggling to find space. We thought of what strategy to use, it was a tight gybe, but the guys pulled it off and it was a great move.
About the trimming of the head sails: "There is a lot of trimming on both sails, and we are using the winches. It's a challenge for the guys to make sure that we don't get any overrides. Especially when you go through the manoeuvres and gybes, the head sail trim is crucial to get speed of the water. It might not look like it but there is a lot going on."
Peter Burling Emirates Team New Zealand, Helmsman
On the top mark rounding: “We were quite glad we didn't touch the mark on the first race... It was a pretty nice day for the team, we really enjoyed the race. Today there were some mistakes, and it shows how small the margins are on these boats: if you get something right it looks smooth and clean, if you get something wrong it looks quite loose.”