WIND AND WAVES EXPECTED FOR THE INVITED TEAMS AT THE UNICREDIT YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP

The morning swell from the east is already in play, delivering expected wave heights of 0.7 metres and the ‘Llevant’ easterly is gaining in strength with the meteorologists suggesting eight knots building to 15 knots with the potential for 18-knot gusts. That’s what the sailors call ‘sporty’ and we could be in for a day of thrills and hopefully not too many ‘spills’ as the Invited Teams of the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup do battle over at least four races today.

Yesterday, the hometown heroes of Sail Team BCN sailed masterfully to secure their race win and will be looking for consistency today to try and secure a coveted podium position and qualify for the semi-final fleet racing where the top three Invited Teams and America’s Cup Teams will compete in a final fleet race series of four races to determine the top two for the Grand Final.

All eyes today will be on the likes of JAJO DutchSail and Andoo Team Australia who both have serious speed and technique whilst the Swedish Challenge – who agonisingly led the racing yesterday only to be cruelly denied of victory in the final throes – will be determined to stamp their mark on ‘Windy Saturday.’

The Race Committee have declared this morning that the racing will be conducted over two laps (four legs) and are indicating 1.3 nautical mile leg lengths. This will be fast, furious and hard to predict a winner. Today’s racing could be electric.

CHECK BACK HERE AT 14:10 CET FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RACING DIRECT FROM THE RACECOURSE.

Group B Race 2

With Race Management confirming the use of J3 jibs, the smallest out of the three AC40 jibs available, the boats are all now in the starting vicinity for what could be four outstanding races today.The easterly breeze is in with gusts of 16 knots on the start-line and all six boats line up for the first of what could be four fleet races today.

Off the start line, Australia makes a super timed-run in to lead but the Dutch and Swedish make quick inroads on the drag race to the left boundary. A poor tack that results in a splashdown sees the Australians off the foils whilst the Swedish get a boundary penalty. Spain looking good in the middle of the course whilst the Dutch go far left and have made gains. At the first windward mark, it’s Spain in the lead after nailing a terrific starboard layline, with Sweden tight behind after expending their penalty, and the Dutch in third. Canada are in touch in fourth.

Down the first downwind leg, Spain gybes in from the right but Sweden shows unbelievable speed and rolls over the top. Canada is up into third having overtaken the Dutch on the left boundary. Spain appear to be struggling with two-boards down and are briefly overtaken by the Canadians who give it away with a boundary penalty. Spain survives to follow Sweden around the leeward gate. Wind up to 16 knots and all on here in Barcelona.

Up the second and final beat. Australia gets into contention. Overtaking the Dutch but it’s close, boat for boat action between these two as they bounce off the port boundary. Sweden looks to extend by the midway part of the upwind with Spain holding station in second - just. Some touchdowns out to the starboard boundary, kill the speed on Spain, and Australia take full advantage, sailing into second and still match-racing the Dutch in the final approaches to the last windward gate.

Sweden round with a lead in excess of 440 metres, and nail the bear-away, whilst Australia and the Dutch come in on the port layline to round second and third. Spain is down to fourth. Sweden suffer a hobby-horse on their first gybe and get super-loose, Australia close in, just manage to nail their gybe and sensationally take the lead, blasting through to leeward. The Swedish are down to third as the Dutch also overtake. Great racing.

Boat for boat into the finish line, Australia gybe out at the port layline, right on the edge and scream down on starboard whilst the Swedish further left push mightily hard to try and steal back the lead. A final gybe onto port and Australia take the 10 points, Sweden come across in second for 7 points and Netherlands third for 5 points. Brilliant opener.

Group B Race 3

After the opening thriller, Race 3 of the series gets underway in a 16-17 knot breeze after a short delay with Spain looking to have technical issues. Off the line, once again it’s Australia that makes the best start and leads out to the port boundary, punching through some quite nasty waves. The Dutch and Canadians started on port tack and head to the starboard boundary whilst Sweden keep it clean up the middle of the course. Germany made a cracker of a start and follow the Australians. Tight racing.

Australia storm into a commanding lead with the port-tack-starters, Canada and Netherland, eking into second and third. Spain are in catch-up mode after a boundary penalty before the start. The Dutch fall out of contention after a poor tack onto port so at the top mark it’s Australia who round first, Canada in second and Sweden in third. Big splashdown from the Australians after the ebar-away but they survive. This is on the edge stuff. Sweden steal into second on the ebar-away and gybe off the left boundary to sail into the middle of the course.

Impressive sailing from the whole fleet, but Australia have a big broach on a gybe and give up the lead. Sweden keep it consistent and take the lead with the Canadians following. Around the bottom gate, Sweden go for a one-board round-up and head to the port boundary whilst Canada skids around on one-board and heads to the starboard boundary. Behind the leading two it’s tight with Australia back into third.

Sweden keep a loose cover on the fleet with a considerable lead above 200 metres and the big battle now for the podium is between the Canadians and Australians. A big squeeze from the Australians out to the port boundary looks promising but a poor tack allows the Canadians, who tack cleanly, to get vital position and secure second place - for now.

At the final windward mark, Sweden bears away at 39 knots with the lead out to above 500 metres. Canada follow behind whilst the battling Australians are overtaken by the Dutch in third. All to play for down this final run for the crucial third-spot on the podium. After a great bear-away, Australia look to have regained third but it’s nip and tuck.

Sweden secure their first race win and 10 points, Canada takes second and 7 points whilst Australia have a poor final gybe on the left boundary and get overtaken by the Dutch who secure third place and 5 points. Boat-on-boat action all the way - terrific sailing.

Group B Race 4

Everything to play for, the points are tight at the top and it’s a competitive start with Sweeden and Australia making glamour starts at the starboard end of the line. The Dutch are OCS and the Canadians make a great start down at the port end and head to the port boundary. On the flop back, Canada maintain the lead but Australia continue out left and when they tack, are right in contention. Sweden in third but being challenged hard by Spain who have banged hard right on the starboard boundary.

At the first gate it’s desperately tight but Australia bear-away with a 40 metre lead from Sweden and Canada with Spain right in there as the top four head out to the right boundary before gybing. Sweden gybe first and begin to roll over the Australians - a brilliant match race for the lead whilst behind it’s boat-for-boat between Canada and Spain. A long starboard gybe for the leaders before the Australians go for the gybe and splashdown. Sweden strolls into the lead and execute a brilliant one-board down round up whilst Spain claws into second after better boat handling than the Australians and Canadians. Australia spins out at the leeward gate and are now in catch up.

Sweden consolidates their lead up the final beat - they are sailing so consistently - going boundary to boundary to minimise the tacks as the wind speed abates to 14 knots. Spain look increasingly comfortable in second with Canada third, this will all be about surviving the final downwind leg. Germany begins to fight back and are having a great second beat in fourth place.

Before the final gate,however, Sweden fall off the foils through a tack in the last quarter but survive to round clear ahead from Spain and Canada with the Germans eager to challenge the podium. Spain have a small cavitation after the gate that allows Canada to close but out to the right, Germany are flying off the starboard boundary and are ready to capitalise on any mistakes. Spain hold a low VMG downwind and survive some scares as they cover Canada who have a spill out on a gybe on the boundary.

Sweden sail masterfully to cross and score their second win today, Spain fly across to get second whilst in third it’s a remarkable final leg comeback from Australia who squeeze out Germany for third. What a race.

Group B Race 5

With the scoreboard tight for the top three places, this fifth fleet race in the series is vital. You can feel the tension. The Dutch have an onboard issue and are instructed not to race. Off the line, it’s a great start from the Swedish who hit the line at pace having forced Canada into all sorts of trouble at the starboard end of the line. Australia are more than living with the Swedish in terms of pace and at the boundary get the right of way and hold the lead. Spain tacked early and on the drag race to the starboard boundary are looking good in third but the rich got richer and Australia have a solid lead.

Australia nail the starboard layline to the first gate to perfection and bear away at 36 knots with Sweden following out to the right side of the course whilst Spain take the alternative marker and head left. As the fleet comes back together, Australia and Sweden have both gained considerably with Sweden hunting. Once again the gybe from port to starboard by the Australians sees the boat sky-rocket and screw-up into the wind. Sweden say ‘thank you very much,’ seize the lead and now the Australians are in catch-up mode.

Australia recover brilliantly from the splashdown and hold their second place as they round up the leeward gate whilst Spain, in third, punches into big waves after the gate and briefly come off the foils. Sensationally, the Australians, having gone to the right boundary, pick up pretty much all of the distance they lost on their downwind splashdown and come back at the Swedish team on a big right shift.

Taking full advantage, Australia has the hammer down but Sweden has good positional advantage further to the right of the course and just make the cross as the final gate approaches. Australia sail from out to leeward and seize the lead - incredible sailing from Cole Tapper and Jack Ferguson. All on for the final downwind with both the Swedish and Australians right on the edge and flying on the foils.

Sweden have serious pace downwind and after the first gybe, roll over the Australians who cavitated straight after their gybe - again from port to starboard. Sweden sail through and hold about an 80 metre advantage with the finish line approaching. Sailing deep VMG, Sweden bring it home and score their third win of the day and another 10 points whilst Australia hold their final gybe and follow in behind for 7 points in second. Spain secure third and the Race Committee announce another race to come.

Group 4 Race 6

All action before the start with Sail Team BCN having an onboard issue that sees them start after the fleet, whilst a massive nosedive from the Australians, a minute before the start, sees the boat fill with water. Sweden start smartly out at the starboard end of the line with the Dutch whilst the Germans and Canadians can eye points to be had here in this race.

Sweden streak into an early lead but are kept honest by the Dutch on a long drag race from the port to starboard boundary. A steady and in-control tack from the Swedish sees them lead in to the first gate on a beautiful starboard layline and they bear-away at 37 knots with the Dutch in second and Germany in third. Sweden keep it smooth down the first run, gybing beautifully and extending all the way down the leg.

At the leeward gate, Sweden’s lead is out to some 500 metres as the Race Committee shortens the final upwind leg to 1 nautical mile. The Dutch hold on to second with Canada, having sailed a smooth downwind leg, up to third. Australia, who had started late, have come back into contention, overtaking the Germans, and are aiming for points on the board in fourth.

Sweden are outstanding and sailing their own race, rounding the final windward gate, taking the starboard marker at 39 knots and heading to the left boundary initially. The Dutch look secure in second whilst Canada have their eyes over their shoulder as they lead Australia by a couple of hundred metres. On the bear-away though, a big broach from Canada, opens the door for Australia who bear-away smartly and get into that vital third spot. Brilliant never-say-die attitude from the Australians.