ALL SET FOR A SUNDAY DUEL AT THE LOUIS VUITTON 37th AMERICA’S CUP
After the razzmatazz, colour and spectacle of dock-out in the Port Vell, Barcelona yesterday, day two of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match is very much a down-to-business day. The sentiment from the sailors was that this is a far tighter Match than the scoreline suggests, and now each team has their agendas set.
For Emirates Team New Zealand it was the perfect start. Two wins from two and a display of manoeuvre execution, strategy and focus that is the mark of this ultra-proficient defence. To beat them, INEOS Britannia know that they will have to get under their skin, mix it close and force a way into the lead.
Overnight the engineers, coaches and technicians will have been analysing every facet of each other’s performance in the hope that their team can come out slugging today.
It's an intriguing battle for the world’s oldest sporting trophy and one befitting of the competition’s tradition and values so all eyes today are on what looks like an improving weather picture.
This morning in Barcelona it’s warm with pockets of high scattered ‘wispy’ clouds in the blue skies and with the wind direction expected to be in the east and aligned with a 0.7 metre swell, this could be interesting. Forecasters are suggesting 7-10 knots and with the ‘Llevant’ winds, what we often see is an even racetrack where overtaking possibilities abound.
Racing is scheduled to start at 1410 CET this afternoon for Race 3 of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match with INEOS Britannia on port entry, followed by Race 4 at 1515 CET with Emirates Team New Zealand coming in from the port side.
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Race 3
The breeze is in and above the 6.5 knots lower limit and on time, we get away with IB entering from the port side just 3 seconds shy and greeted immediately by ETNZ who enter and gybe as IB go for a tack around. ETNZ sail deep and then tack around go aim at IB. Both boats protest and with ETNZ the right of way boat, IB get an immediate penalty for not doing enough to keep clear.
IB forced to sail off to the port side and ETNZ start uncontested and tack immediately away to the right side of the course. IB tack off to the right as both boats go to alternative boundaries. IB clear their penalty as ETNZ tacks on the right boundary.
IB in catch up mode and it’s close on the next cross with ETNZ clear ahead and tacking on IB’s bow. IB tack away and go left in a good pressure band whilst ETNZ goes to the right boundary. At the next cross, ETNZ are again ahead and slam a tack again on IB’s bow forcing the British to tack away. ETNZ sail back to the right boundary and tack on pressure as IB sail off to the left. ETNZ in control but it’s tight.
At the top gate, ETNZ goes to the starboard layline and selects the starboard marker to bear-away at to play the left of the first run (looking downwind) initially. The lead is at 19 seconds as IB takes the port marker and goes right downwind initially.
ETNZ gybes on the left boundary as IB gybe on the right and as they come together ETNZ are still clear with IB hanging in some 165 yards behind. Race Committee recognise that the wind is dropping and have successively shortened the legs - now to 1.5nm.
ETNZ sail to the right boundary and gybe as IB goes to the left. Both boats going boundary to boundary to find the laylines. ETNZ rounds the leeward gate and takes the starboard marker to head left up the second beat. Delta now out to 27 seconds as IB take the port marker and go right up the beat. ETNZ tack to cover IB and when the British tack before the boundary, ETNZ match-race cover from some 200 metres ahead.
Tack for tack, ETNZ keeps a watching brief on IB, not letting them get any leverage as this breeze softens and the course legs are down to 1.4 nautical miles. A tack on the right boundary by IB is again covered from upfront by ETNZ and both boats sail a long starboard tack up the course before IB are the first to tack back towards the right boundary.
At the second windward gate, ETNZ tacks on the port layline and bears-away at the port marker. IB sail in on the port layline to round 32 seconds behind and bear away also at the port marker. ETNZ gybe early and sail over to the left side of the course, followed by IB and it’s clear that ETNZ are looking for the better pressure down the course whilst minimising manoeuvres. ETNZ gybe on the left boundary and aim towards the starboard layline to the leeward mark. Race Committee shorten again to 1.3nm legs.
At the final leeward gate, ETNZ rounds the port marker and heads to the right up the final beat with a lead of 33 seconds and two legs left to run. IB follow around and then tack away, covered by ETNZ up the course who sail a long starboard tack. IB first to tack back mid course and again covered by ETNZ. No leverage out here for the British and ETNZ are doggedly determined.
ETNZ capitalises, going slightly further to the right boundary before tacking and are in the ultimate control position here and, after coming in on the port layline, take a smart tack at the gate and exit off the starboard marker with a lead of 43 seconds. IB split tactics and go right after exiting the port marker and the finishing leg is shortened to 1.2nm.
ETNZ bounce off the left boundary and sail a long starboard gybe into more pressure before gybing on the starboard layline and head for the finish line, nailing the final gybe. No mistakes Emirates Team New Zealand go 3-0 up in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match with a final winning delta of 52 seconds.
Emirates Team New Zealnd bt INEOS Britannia (52 seconds)
Race 4
Wind conditions are dropping, as expected, in Barcelona this afternoon and initially the wind-limit is not met so the race is under postponement. Stand by.
Just before 15:30 CET, the Race Committee announce that this race has been postponed and we are standing by for further updates in due course.
At 15:30 CET the Race Committee announce that racing has been stopped for the day.