|
Auckland, February 6, 2009
Race One: Damiani Italia vs. Luna Rossa A battle between the Italian teams, the first time these two teams have met. After some dial up posturing, both drop back to the new “in spot”: the right side of the back of the starting box. Heading back for the gun, Damiani Italia tacks ahead and to leeward of Luna Rossa at the start. Damiani kept the lead up the track, but Luna Rossa wouldn’t let them go. In a gutsy move, Damiani crossed ahead on port tack at the top mark, with just enough room to round ahead of Luna Rossa. Damiani allowed LR separation downwind but at the bottom the delta was the same, Damiani by eight seconds. Damiani lead by 30 seconds at the second windward, with the breeze beginning to subside. Luna Rossa made no gains, and Damiani allowed them less separation on the final downwind, and finally extended the delta to 1:40 at the finish. Both teams had difficulty managing the relatively heavy spinnakers. At one point Damiani lost their kite, which raked across the man up the mast looking for wind, nearly dislodging him. One of the most human images of the regatta so far was a view onboard Damiani as they brought up the runners –- too much, as it turned out, firing the buzzer that warns them they’ve cranked on too much. To say that it startled skipper Vasco Vascotto, is an understatement. He grabbed his heart in alarm, though appears to have recovered from the scare by now. Also on this page: Damiani
Italia Press Release
Race Two: Alinghi vs. BMW Oracle After a four-hour-plus delay, racing was back on, in 14-16 knots of breeze. Ed Baird and Russell Coutts headed to the back of the start box and tentatively circled each other. Coming back to the line at the committee boat end, Alinghi led Oracle, the American team tucked in tight to windward just behind. Up the first beat, a tacking duel ensued, Alinghi refusing to let BMW Oracle get away, but BMW Oracle gaining slowly. The margin was 12 seconds at the top. Alinghi took the right and BMW Oracle the left at the bottom –- with the same 12 second deficit. But it was all on downwind, as the American team did get that shift they’d been looking for, pulling them to less than a length astern of Alinghi. Unfortunately their position risked a penalty if Alinghi gybed, so BMW Oracle had to head away. When they came back they were too far behind Alinghi to affect their wind. See
Detailed Race 2
Report below for more
Race Three: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Team Origin ETNZ got the favored right but Origin got a small lift, eventually crossed, and ETNZ were not able to find a passing lane from then on. Both upwind legs were similar, Tacking duels, 12 seconds and 15 seconds around the top marks. Downwind legs also copied each other. At the gate mark it was 10 seconds to Origin. On the final leg, though a lead had opened up for the British, things got close at the end when a split paid for ENTZ and they appeared to be gybing better and picking up distance in the process, but ETNZ only reeled them in enough for the second closest finish of the regatta, 7 seconds. Dean Barker, Skipper, Emirates Team New Zealand: “We talked a lot about the start and decided that the left looked good, but we were in a right phase for a long time so we were happy to go right. But we sailed into a left shift and didn’t connect with that pressure. The key was to keep it close at the top and try to get them on the runs. We just want to minimize mistakes and be there but there was no opportunity to attach here. We battled hard and we were close a couple of times but not close enough to get around them.” Barker on Origin: “They’re sailing really well – they’re one of the stronger teams and the stronger teams are getting better toward the end of the event.” Barker on the chance to race: “We were happy to sail today –- I’d have been very disappointed if what happened yesterday started a precedent.” Also on this page: Team Origin Press Release ETNZ Press Release -- Reporting by Diane Swintal for CupInfo/©2009 CupInfo Alinghi-BMW Oracle Race 2 Detailed Report: Start: Alinghi crosses BMW Oracle on the entry, gets away. Both look to be trying for the right-hand side. Alinghi ahead, nearly early, BMW Oracle trails across the line by one length. Immediate pair of tacks and Oracle comes back at them, breaking cover, while Alinghi protects the right and holds a 30m lead. Tacking duel continues, gains to Oracle. Boats quickly out near the right-hand layline. Oracle tacks behind Alinghi and the boats switch sides. They come back and Alinghi tacks on top, close, Oracle keeps the overlap and luffs, green flag. Alinghi rounds 12 seconds ahead. First Leeward Leg: Oracle chasing, then a gybe and Alinghi covers. Oracle gets some separation in the middle of the course, and trims the lead slightly. Alinghi looks like aiming for the right-hand gate, BMW might follow, but then chooses left, and they split tacks on rounding before both falling in on starboard. Second Windward Leg: Delta 12 seconds at the leeward mark, but Alinghi picked up distance after the rounding, with the right-hand gate favored. 90-100m lead for Alinghi. Both boats on port, layline coming up. Alinghi runs out of water and tacks. Gains to BMW Oracle on a lift. Mark rounding coming. About a 12-second gap again at the mark. Final Leeward Leg: Oracle is close, but close enough? Alinghi lets Oracle open some separation, and Oracle gains. Oracle takes Alinghi toward the layline. Less than a boatlength, but not close enough to pin Alinghi. Oracle splits away. Oracle loses slightly on the separation. Finish line coming. Not much room to continue any attacks for Oracle. Alinghi wins Race 2, finish delta 26 seconds. With the win, Alinghi will take the #1 seed in the Rounds Robin and advance directly to the Challenger Final. -- ©2009 CupInfo |
||||||
|
Rounds Robin 1 and 2: Head-to-Head Results and Standings |
Virtual Eye, Now More Virtual For those who know Auckland well, do not fret –- some missing city landmarks have found their way into Virtual Eye. Viewers complained that
two of the city’s most prominent features, Bean Rock Lighthouse in the
middle of the harbor and Auckland Harbor Bridge, were not included on the
otherwise incredibly detailed Virtual Eye flyovers of the city. Virtual
Eye management grabbed their 3D graphics guru, Ben Sharpe, to add the
features. Sharpe worked overnight to update the program ahead of a trip
Sunday to Melbourne to manage Virtual Eye’s golf coverage. So hopefully,
as far as Virtual Eye is concerned, the city of Auckland is complete. |
|||||
|
Damiani Italia Press Release:
Damiani Italia Challenge Wins the Derby A really exciting was lived today in Waitemata Bay, Auckland. In light and unstable wind condition, such as to require postponement of the big match between Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing, Damiani Italy Challenge has faced and fought Luna Rossa, that, on the eve of the New Zealand hot Sunday, shared with the team of Vasco Vascotto the last place in the Golden Fleet of the second Round Robin. The expected Italian derby of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has spoken the language of Damiani Italy Challenge since the moments prior to the start. Francesco Bruni, helmsman who to every exit seems to refine his match race skills, he was good at anticipating the moves of Peter Holmberg and cut the line with a lead of about ten meters. Although small, the margin gained on the start was crucial on the race, because it has enabled Damiani Italy Challenge, well-guided in the perils of the race by a brilliant Vasco Vascotto, to control the tacking duel of the first leg. Reached the top of the course with eight seconds ahead, Damiani Italy Challenge has extended its lead during the first downwind leg, alternating the control of the opponent to the navigation on the wind. Today victory is not the result of good performance cues, but also of the process of maneuvering, as demonstrated at the first gennaker drop, when the malfunction of the retriever had not taken the crew unprepared. Won the point, the crew of Italy Damiani Challenge immediately turned the corner and directed its attention to the important match of tomorrow, which will see it opposed to the British Team Origin, in a duel that will promote the winner at the quarter-finals and condemn the vanquished to Sail Off. Francesco Bruni, helmsman of Italy Damiani Challenge: “It's been a hard fought race. On the line there were slight advantage and we have defended until arrival. At the windward mark there was a thrill: we have entered into a lack of wind and have slowed, they were approached and asked for the penalty, but the Umpire has given the green. The boys have done an excellent job and we are overjoyed to have won this race.”
Vasco
Vascotto, skipper and tactician Damiani Italy Challenge: “It was a special
race, needless to say the opposite. In water have fought two groups of
friends and we enjoy ourselves, but I am convinced that they will be back
soon. We have made a good race and we must be satisfied. The two teams
have proven to be alive and doing things right: we have a beautiful image
of Italian sailing. For our part, we hope to be entered in the heart of
grandmothers and childs.” |
||||||
|
Team Origin Press Release:
Team
Origin Score An Impressive Win Against Emirates Team New Zealand In Their
Home Waters Day Four of Round Robin two proved to be a long day on the water but worth waiting for with the Team Origin boys taking a 7 second race win against the home team, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Ben Ainslie and his team showing form against his old team mate, Dean Barker. Race one of the day saw Damiani Italia with Vasco Vascotto take a win over fellow Italian team, Luna Rossa, giving them their first point of this RR2 series of racing. Race two was the much awaited Alinghi vs. BMW Oracle race, promising some interesting action between these two top teams. Unfortunately the wind died and only filled in around 3.30pm so the teams and the extensive spectator fleet faced a long delay on the water. The warning signal was eventually fired at 4.20pm in a nice steady 12-15 knot south westerly breeze. Alinghi took the win by 32 seconds following a nail biting race that Ed Baird and his team lead from the start but Russell Coutts and BMW Oracle threw everything at it. Distances at mark roundings were as little as 12 seconds and even as late as the last downwind leg, the two teams were neck and neck with Russell keeping in close contact with the BMW Oracle team. This win gives Alinghi 3 points for this round and ensures them a place in the Challenger sail-off. Race three finally got underway at 6.20pm in a beautiful Auckland evening and perfect 15 knot wind and it was time for Team Origin to take to the stage to race against the home team, Emirates Team New Zealand. As ETNZ are holders of the Louis Vuitton Trophy from June 2007, they have an automatic place in the finals of this event so races against them do not count for any points but Team Origin saw this race as a great opportunity to line up against this experienced team and continue their learning curve. Following some initial dialling up, both teams lined up coming in towards the committee boat end of the start line with Team Origin holding the ETNZ boat up to weather and leading off the start line by a narrow 8m margin. The first beat saw both boats heading upwind neck and neck but with Team Origin in a controlling position and Dean Barker pushing hard and throwing in multiple tacks which Team Origin matched tack for tack. The distance between the two teams varied from 20m to 90m with the wind shifting but Ben and the team doing an impressive job in keeping in the controlling position Team Origin led around the first windward mark by a narrow but important 12 seconds and the chase was on. Gybe for gybe the pair headed downwind, ETNZ appeared to be trying to draw Team Origin into a gybing duel perhaps hoping that they might be able to force some errors on this new team but it was not to be. By the first leeward gate, Team Origin dropped their spinnaker first and headed for right hand gate and ETNZ followed in, with only a 10 second gap between them round the mark. Both tacked immediately on the mark and headed up the beat again tack for tack, with Team Origin holding the lead by around 60m. Team Origin seemed to pull ahead following tacks by both teams and extended to 100m but with ETNZ not giving up easily. Remember that both Ainslie and Barker were tune up partners in the last Americas Cup and know each others moves inside out so this pair were watching each others moves intently. With both teams playing the game up the middle of the pitch, ETNZ continued to try to reel them back in and Team Origin continued to hold a controlling and covering position but still all to play for. Ben and his team did a really nice job staying strong and steady. The New Zealanders pushed hard and managed to close up again to a 30m distance. Both reached the left hand layline, and Team Origin pulled out again benefitting from a lift in the wind to stretch their lead to 86m, both heading in to the top mark for last time. Team Origin led round the windward mark and held a distance of 80m safely around heading downwind for the last time, still not home and dry but as from the start in a controlling position. Both headed downwind pretty much straight down the line on the same tack, the lead stretching to over 90 metres. ETNZ threw in a gybe and Team Origin followed suit, matching the chasing team. An impressive job by the Team Origin boys in maintaining their lead over this hugely experienced home team. ETNZ threw in another gybe and Team Origin followed again, these gybes absolutely critical to both teams as even a tiny error could cost everything. Two further gybes and Team Origin matching perfectly. Further gybing put them under pressure and the gap narrowed down slightly. ETNZ definitely pushing to try to get into an advantageous position given the experience they have, the margin narrowed down to 40m guaranteeing another thrilling finish. Closing to under 30m, really all still to play for. ETNZ gybed across and Team Origin carried on to the line, 23m between them. Team Origin take the win by a mere but impressive 7 seconds. Mike Sanderson, Team Director, commented after this exciting race, What a great race. It was a long day on the water and then we had to jump on board and get into it straight away. We had a really good race together as a team, still a long way to go but a nice feeling to get a win in this race. Although our score tally might imply that we have not had as good a week as Round Robin one, we are definitely sailing a lot better as a team and if we keep improving at this rate, we hope to be in this regatta for a while yet. Team
Origin are certainly creating waves here in Auckland, having sailed 8
races they have only lost 2 and of the 2 they lost, they were in a leading
position for most of those race so a really impressive performance by this
exciting team after such little time together!! |
||||||
|
Emirates Team New Zealand Press Release: Breeze Dictates the Day Race Day 9 of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and a soft and shifty breeze again kept crews on their toes. It was a day when a small early advantage could, with determined defense against sustained aggression, win the race. It turned out to be a day without passing lanes The first race started on time at 11am and saw Damiani Italia Challenge beat Luna Rossa by 1.42. Then came the waiting. Race 2 start was delayed until 4.50 pm by which time the southerly had finally filled in. It was a keenly anticipated match between BMW Oracle and Alinghi Alinghi won the start and controlled the match to the finish. Oracle came tantalizingly close to breaking through on several occasions but could not. Alinghi won by 28 sec. The Emirates Team New Zealand match against Team Origin finally got underway at 6.30 pm. Both yachts got a clean start, Dean Barker with the right he wanted, and Origin to leeward and slightly ahead. A shift to the left gave Origin a good lift and enough leverage to exercise control. Barker and his crew attacked, determined to get out from under, but the British team held firm and led around the first mark by 12 sec On the run, Barker had better speed and made some gains but it was not enough and Origin rounded the right-hand mark 10 sec clear. Origin defended hard up the beat and ETNZ again attacked but British skipper Ben Ainslie’s afterguard kept their cool and extended slightly to round 15 sec in front. The final run was a thriller and left Barker and crew wishing the legs were just a little longer. Great crew work whittled Origins lead down from more than 100 meters to less than a boat length. At the finish Origin crossed the line only 7 secs ahead. Origin sailed a great race, Barker said. We don’t like losing, but it was still good practice for the guys. Tomorrow is the last chance to do any racing before the final. We are looking for another pressure race. Its good to work at making opportunities from behind. It’s the strength of the team to battle back into the race. we did some very nice work on them on the last run but we ran out of runway. |
||||||
