TENSION RISING AHEAD OF SEMI-FINAL DAY OF THE UNICREDIT YOUTH AMERICA’S CUP

With that match race final scheduled to take place in between the first two races of the Louis Vuitton Cup Final on Thursday September 26, maximum global exposure is assured in this single-race, winner-takes-all, match-up.

It’s a thrilling conclusion to what has been an outstanding regatta where real talent has emerged and caught the global eye. For certain, these young sailors are the future, the lifeblood, of the America’s Cup and there are rivalries and friendships forming that will write the future chapters of sailing's oldest and most prestigious competition.

Looking at the conditions today, the breeze this morning in Barcelona has been ‘draining’ off from the northern mountain ranges and is expected to slowly move around to a southerly airflow in the 190° direction.

Through the early afternoon this is predicted to steadily increase from the current six knots and all the boats will be held ashore at the Port Olímpic to allow the wind to settle in, with estimates of dock-out team being mid-afternoon. The sea-state is calm and is expected to stay that way so that when we do get underway, it will be a sailor’s day requiring eyes out of the boats looking for the pressure patches.

Speaking at the briefing this morning Race Director, Iain Murray, indicated that target race times today would be in the 14-15 minutes range and his team are expecting to set the course with legs of between 0.9 and 1.4 nautical miles in length.

So it’s a hold for now and a wait for the breeze to settle. Shoreside, down at the Port Olímpic, you can feel the tension. There’s a lot on the line. All of these UniCredit Youth America’s Cup sailors want that trophy and want it badly. Today will be fascinating. 

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Semi-Final Race 1

As a south-westerly 9-11 knot ‘Garbi’ breeze fills in with flat water, we are good for racing and after a small delay, the Race Committee clear the wind limit easily and get underway at 14.30. It’s game-time now and it’s serious, with the Invited Teams hoping to shake up the order in the America’s Cup teams. Early problems for the Spanish who look to have onboard problems with just a minute to go. At the start there’s a gaggle at the starboard end with USA looking good to leeward with Italy above them. These two continue to the left boundary whilst the rest of the fleet splits to the right. At the cross back, Italy makes an error on port tack against the Swedish and gets a get-behind 75 metre penalty. That penalty is doubled to 150 metres for not executing in time.

At the first gate, Spain emerges from the pack with Sweden, Italy and Australia following. All on for the first run with USA following Sweden to the left boundary whilst the erst of the pack bounces off the right. Sweden seize the lead on the first cross. This is a tight run with plenty of variables as they come into the final quarter. On the port layline, Spain comes flying in and seizes back the lead, and these two split tactics up the second beat. The right seems to be paying early with Sweden taking the lead back and they decide to protect the right, tacking on the face of the Spanish.

Into the final quarter of the beat and those that stayed right, have gained again and a brilliant piece of positional sailing on the final port layline sees Italy sneak into second. GBR also make a late play, rounding the port marker in third place with Spain in fourth. Split tactics again downwind with Sweden and Italy going far left, followed by USA and it’s a long port gybe down the course to get to the starboard layline for the finish. Sweden make no mistake, gybe on the layline and score a vital 10 points and the first win of the Semi-Final. Italy come back from a double penalty to get second and then there’s a three-way finish for third with GBR sneaking in ahead of Spain and USA. Great opening race.

Semi-Finals Race 2

Great conditions once again with flat water and a steady 14-16 knots of breeze. At the start of Race 2 in this epic Semi-Final, Spain, Australia and Sweden all score OCS penalties whilst Italy goes for a port tack start, ducks the fleet and heads off to the right boundary. Everyone follows the Italians and at the first tack they have gained on the fleet with USA giving chase over at the boundary. GBR are sailing well in the middle of the course but USA overhaul a ducking Italy after coming in from the hard right.

At the top mark it’s desperately close with USA and Italy going for alternate marks first and second with Australia in third. Split tactics down the first run initially with USA coming in from the left boundary and staying clear of Italy in second on the first cross. Australia sail a long port drag down the course with USA but on the entry to the leeward mark, Italy comes in on the port boundary on starboard tack and forces USA to crash gybe. Italy gybe themselves and round fast on the port marker and head immediately right. All about the next shift now.

USA marks the Italians hard and comes in from the left to tack right underneath ITA and force them back to the right boundary. At the next intersection, Italy has gained and takes the lead with USA forced to duck on port tack. Nothing to choose between the tp two, on the next tack back, Italy duck and the lead changes again in USA’s favour. ITA call a brilliant starboard layline from afar but USA nails the port layline and rounds the final windward gate in first. GBR knocking on the door in third.

Split boundaries on this final run with USA coming into the cross on starboard gybe from the left and clear ahead of ITA. GBR going fast and splitting the top two positionally on the course. On the final gybe into the finish line, USA get loose but just hold it and cross to win from Italy in second and GBR in third. Epic finish.

Semi-Finals Race 3

All to play for, Italy and USA sit atop in the standings but both Sweden and GBR are right in contention. At the start, there’s a big bunch at the starboard end whilst Spain attempts for a port tack start. Off the line it’s a packed group, led by Italy who impose a penalty on Australia which is then doubled and subsequently tripled. Sweden get away cleanly and USA in the hunt as they all tack to the right boundary.

Italy lead but it’s very tight with Sweden who tack underneath the Italians and very nearly get rolled. All the aces with Italy into the final quarter of the leg. GBR sneak second as Sweden falls into the Italian dirty air on a long starboard out to the port boundary. GBR are keeping everyone honest but have a wide rounding at the port marker that allows USA to get inside them whilst Italy retakes the lead at 40 knots downwind.

Italy gybe at the left boundary (looking downwind) and are clear ahead now, good match-race gybe for gybe between USA and GBR. In the final approaches to the leeward mark, USA has a poor gybe after a very close cross with Italy who round just ahead of the rapid GBR. Split tactics initially up the final beat with Italy going hard right and GBR hard left. At the cross back, it’s a gain to Italy who are coming across on starboard with the recovering USA. A poor tack from Italy, allows the top three to tighten further and it’s anyone’s game into the final quarter.

Italy show brilliant positional and tactical skills down this final leg and survive a small touchdown on their second gybe to come in from the left and cross GBR and USA easily. Sailing onto the starboard layline, ITA makes no mistake to score their first win of the Semi-Final series, GBR second and USA third. These three are really proving dominant now.

Semi-Finals Race 4

Final race, final chance for some of these young sailors to prove their talent and showcase it to the world. Italy are first on 24 points but USA and GBR are tied for second place on 17 points with Sweden in fourth on 15 points. Absolutely everything on the line now to secure the top two spots. At the start, the fleet line up at the starboard end in a bunch and come down the line with USA and GBR marking each other closely. Italy get a penalty for being OCS at the starboard end of the line and expunges it quickly out by the right boundary. USA tack off to the right whilst GBR gets squeezed in a pack with Sweden and Australia.

Australia emerge in the lead mid leg, leading a very tight pack which is headed by Sweden. A fleet split in the final quarter sees AUS, USA and ITA out right and a poor tack by Sweden sees them out of contention. USA sneak into second but fall off the foils on a difficult tack/bear-away. Very close racing.

Down the first run, Australia is keeping ahead beautifully whilst Spain fly into second place after a great exit from the windward mark. GBR have a poor first gybe that brings USA closer to them but at the final leeward gate there is nothing to choose between GBR and USA who round together on split initial tactics up the final beat. GBR tack to engage with USA who are forced to duck them on the first cross. USA get to the right and it will be all be decided in the final quarter of the leg. Australia stays ahead. Italy are in second and Spain in third. The fight is between USA and GBR and it’s USA that hold the aces, crossing and then tacking on the British off the left boundary.

USA lead back to the right and attempt to get on the starboard layline, GBR cross behind. All on for the final spot in the Finals but USA are in control at the final windward mark. Australia, Italy and Spain are in the podium seats but it’s all about the battle between USA and GBR but the Americans have extended and it’s all down to the next couple of gybes. USA and GBR both gybe together onto opposite gybes and execute beautifully.

Australia wins the race, Italy second, Spain third and USA secure their place in the match-race final for the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup with a fourth place. Heartbreak for GBR. Delight for USA.