ETNZ Wins Closer Race Against Luna Rossa

(July 21) Italy's Luna Rossa improved their showing Sunday, keeping much closer to a strong looking Kiwi team that performed well even after cutting away their damaged headsail, cutting the final delta to 2:19, but with the win Emirates Team New Zealand likely has now clinched the top spot in the standings of the Louis Vuitton Cup Rounds Robin.

 

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget
 

Luna Rossa Scores Third Point

(July 20) Italy's Luna Rossa added another point to their Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin total Saturday, sailing unopposed by scheduled competition Artemis Racing. 

LVC standings are led by ETNZ (5 points), and then Luna Rossa (3 points), with the two expected to race each other Sunday.

 

Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.  Spectators race each other via remote control in the America's Cup park.
Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget
 

ETNZ Notches 50 MPH On Race Course

(July 18) Emirates Team New Zealand sailed Race 1 of the third Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Thursday, unopposed by scheduled opponent Artemis Racing.  On the first leg, ETNZ recorded the first official speeds over 50mph/80 kph in a Louis Vuitton Cup race.  ETNZ still wins one point for their troubles, and will return to action against Luna Rossa on Sunday.

 

Luna Rossa Wins Point

(July 16) Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA) was on the schedule against Artemis Challenge (SWE) in today's Round Robin 2 match, but the Swedish team again was unable to start while they are working to launch their new AC72 yacht.  Luna Rossa was required to sail the course to earn her point for today.

 

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget
 

ETNZ Adds Another Point Sunday

(July 14) Emirates Team New Zealand sailed the course Sunday, unopposed by Artemis Racing who is still preparing their new AC72 yacht.  ETNZ adds another point to their Round Robin total, now leading Luna Rossa 4-1.  Luna Rossa should pick up a point on Tuesday, when they were originally to face Artemis.

 

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin 2 - Race 1:
ETNZ vs. Luna Rossa

Black streak: ETNZ speeding to victory in Race 1.
Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

Program: One Match Race, start expected 12:15 pm PT.

Conditions: Winds reported WSW 17-18 kts on course at race time.  Tides: Low at 9:10 am, High at 4:10 pm mean strong flood tide for racing.

Race 1:
Complete.  Race underway at 12:15.  Dean Barker on ETNZ boxes out Chris Draper and Luna Rossa, holding them deep in the starting box and away from the line at the gun.  ETNZ heads for the line late, with a good jump on LR, and rounds Mark 1 eight seconds ahead.  On the first downwind leg, they trade gybes, sailing in the mid 30-knot range, ETNZ getting the better eventually, and extending to a 29-second lead at the downwind gate.  Both boats turn left, and head offshore to start the first upwind leg. 

ETNZ stretching to about 500m lead halfway up.  Coming to the top, they cross to inshore, shallower water, fighting a weaker current there, boatspeeds in the low-to-mid 20's.  ETNZ reaches the starboard layline and tacks for the windward gate, heading for the lefthand mark and a bearaway onto the second downwind leg.  They've continued to pull away from the Italians, and the delta has more than doubled to 2:02.   Luna Rossa chasing downwind, both boats inshore.  ITA cuts it too close and gets a boundary penalty. 

ETNZ rounds the bottom gate, taking the lefthand again, but struggles a bit with the daggerboard.  Upwind/downwind cross with LR ducking.  LR heads right, inshore, but 2:47 behind on the second upwind.  ETNZ rounds, well ahead, and gets back up on her foils going downwind.  Huge delta of 4:04 as ETNZ gybes for the final downwind mark and heads for the finish.  ETNZ wins the first head-to-head AC72 match!  Luna Rossa crosses the line 5:23 behind, unofficially, and DNF (Did Not Finish) officially. 

Per the Racing Rules of Sailing for the America's Cup, the Principal Race Officer terminates a match race five minutes after the first boat finishes (Rule 35.1).

Preview:
Emirates Team New Zealand meets Luna Rossa Challenge in the first official race action action between AC72's to ever take place.  Once upon a time the AC72's were supposed to debut last summer in San Francisco, but the teams pushed for longer deadlines and more time to design and develop the boats.  America's Cup fans have been watching the big cats foiling, flying gybing, and looking faster and faster, but they have never raced in earnest until today.

 

Photo:©2013 ACEA/Gilles Martin-Raget

Preview (continued):
Conventional wisdom says ETNZ has been sailing longer, and has built not only a second boat, but designed and built Luna Rossa's boat, too.  But LR has been out on the water themselves, developing their own trick bits, and a boat not much different than ETNZ's might be viewed as a positive in the matchup.  A strong flood current could reward the right race strategies. 

Who has the crewwork?  Who has the speed?  What are the tactics?  Will they engage each other or sprint to the buoys?  Dial-up, timed start, or something else at the gun?  Many people have ideas.  There have been plenty of experts talking about a boat race they've never seen, but everyone will start learning today what AC72 racing is actually like.  This moment has been building for almost three years.  72-foot wingsail foiling cats, some of the highest-tech and flat out fastest boats for these conditions on the planet, kick off real racing for the Louis Vuitton Cup today.  Let's Regatta!

Where to watch:
YouTube: America's Cup Channel (Replay)
Animated: Virtual Spectator
Also: Note that racing will not be broadcast live on television in the USA until next month.
Read more Television/Internet information

Luna Rossa Completes Race 3

(July 11) Italian Challenger Luna Rossa sailed the course alone today to collect their first points of the 2013 Louis Vuitton Cup.  Saturday should see them meet Emirates Team New Zealand for the first head-to-head AC72 race.
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