THE DUEL GOES ON AT THE LOUIS VUITTON 37th AMERICA’S CUP MATCH
After the wind faded away yesterday afternoon following a tight match-race between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia in Race 3, the Race Committee sensibly decided to postpone Race 4 and activate today’s ‘Reserve Day’ to keep on schedule.
So, we have just one race today, starting at 14:10 CET with the weather forecast looking promising. Once again it is an easterly airflow that will settle into the afternoon and is expected to increase from the 7-11 knot initial breeze as the race gets underway - possibly up to 13-15 knots. The swell is aligned with the breeze, coming in also from an easterly direction and delivering 0.5 metre high waves with a relatively long period – ideal for the AC75’s.
At 3-0 down INEOS Britannia will be looking for an all-important first victory that they can use to trigger a fight back. There’s no sense of panic emanating from this highly technical, data-driven team as they continue to trust in their process that has delivered the British to their first America’s Cup Match since 1964.
For Emirates Team New Zealand, the Defenders of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, they will be looking to inflict maximum pressure. Confident in their boatspeed around the course and particularly through manoeuvres. Yesterday they showed real aggression in the pre-start box and we can expect the same today with the Kiwis coming in on the port entry.
It's a fascinating duel between two titans of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup and today’s one race could well be an important marker for either team going forward in the series. It’s unmissable.
CHECK BACK FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM THE RACECOURSE OF THE LOUIS VUITTON 37THAMERICA’S CUP MATCH FROM 14:10 CET
Race 4
Big race coming up and the breeze is in at 8-12 knots from the north-east and the course legs are set to 1.8 nautical miles. ETNZ enters on the port side bang on time to cross IB who also start fast and on time. IB gybes onto ETNZ line out tio right side of pre-start box. ETNZ run down the right side and then gybe deep, IB tacks around to take the initial windward lane. Both boats with time to kill on the starboard tack lead back to the line with ETNZ aiming for the port end of the line and it’s an even start with IB starting 2 knots faster to windward.
ETNZ heading to the left boundary before tacking and finding IB right underneath them in a good leebow position. ETNZ forced to tack away back to the boundary on a slow tack and then tack back quickly to follow IB to the right. Big speed test now between the two boats on a long port tack. IB tack on the right boundary and with starboard tack advantage force ETNZ to duck who carry on to the right boundary before tacking.
IB out to the middle of the course and sailing towards the port tack layline but ETNZ pick up breeze to the right, gain, and then tack right underneath IB on the port layline to the starboard marker. ETNZ bears away at the starboard marker as IB tacks off to the port and it’s zero seconds splitting them at the first gate.
Split tactics down the run with ETNZ going left initially and IB right. At the first cross, ETNZ come across on starboard and cross the bow of IB to head to the right boundary. ETNZ gybe on the right boundary and come back together and just get across the IB bow as both boats again go boundary to boundary as the leeward gate approaches.
ETNZ come into the mark and gybe to take the port rounder 3 seconds ahead as IB goes to the starboard marker and starts the second beat going left. ETNZ tack on the right boundary and have eked a lead but slam a cover immediately on the IB bow as both boats head back to the right. IB first to tack away and ETNZ carry on to the right boundary before tacking back to cover.
ETNZ spotting breeze in the upper right quadrant and are happy with the right, IB going well out left. As they come back, ETNZ have made a gain and tack to cover IB on a port tack drag race. IB forced to tack back left and when they tack back, it’s the same again as ETNZ covers tenaciously. As the second windward gate approaches, ETNZ tack onto the port layline and bear away at the starboard marker with their lead out to 13 seconds. IB follow at the same marker.
ETNZ gybes well before the left boundary, followed by IB who gybe inside and it’s a long starboard gybe down the course to the right boundary. ETNZ first to gybe before the boundary and lead back across the course on starboard gybe. IB follow initially and then gyube back to the right boundary. ETNZ pick their moment and do the same, coming in on the port layline to take the starboard marker to round up on with a lead up to 15 seconds.
ETNZ go for a short distance on starboard tack and then tack back to the right to cover IB who rounded up at the port marker. AS IB tacks, both boats meet mid-course and it’s tack for tack with ETNZ covering hard. Out at the right boundary, IB tacks but are covered immediately by ETNZ who are offering no leverage and as soon as IB try to tack back for the right boundary they are met by an immediate cover. IB forced to sail mid-course and try to find something to the middle-left.
ETNZ enjoying their biggest lead on this penultimate leg of the race and are well in control as the final gate approaches. ETNZ sail to the right of the course as the gate approaches and do a quick tack on the port layline to take the starboard marker for the run to the finish. Delta is up to 24 seconds.
ETNZ go left initially down the run, IB gamble and go right. Again ETNZ gybes well before the left boundary and gybe covers IB who gybe on the right boundary. At the cross, ETNZ are clear ahead by almost 400 metres. ETNZ gybe cover at the halfway mark to mirror IB on port but are clearly setting up for the port layline to the finishing line and one final gybe.
No mistakes, ETNZ nail a super-smooth gybe onto starboard and aim down for the line. It’s 4-0 in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match to Emirates Team New Zealand with a winning delta of 23 seconds.
Emirates Team New Zealand bt INEOS Britannia (23 seconds)
