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America's Cup 32 From the Acts to the Louis Vuitton Cup to the 32nd Match |
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The Dicksons - a day in the life of a great sailing dynasty
Today, Roy Dickson competed in the final of the RNZYS Winter Series. Last night (NZT) son Chris, skippered BMW Oracle to two race wins in Louis Vuitton Act 6.
Roy Dickson on Playbuoy Chris Dickson on BMW Oracle
RNZYS Winter Series Waitemata Harbour NZL Louis Vuitton Act 6, Day 2: Malmo, Sweden
Oracle BMW photos by Giles-Martin Raget KS270805
12-Metre World Championships Set for Newport Horizontal 12 Metres - Kiwi Magic to windward (by Dan Nerney)
At the 12-Metre Worlds, The Jibe will make its
sponsorship presence known with battle flags on the boats and The Jibe
Sauvignon Blanc featured at social events such as the captain's meeting and
opening reception, dinners and the trophy presentation at regatta's end. KS190805
Dickson takes over as skipper on BMW Oracle - full story here KS200705
Schnackenberg to join Luna Rossa?
It is being reported in New Zealand that
former head of Team New Zealand, Tom Schnackenberg, is set to join the Italian
America's Cup syndicate Luna Rossa for the 2007 event in Valencia, Spain. Schnack, flanked by Ross Blackman (L) and Dean Barker at the Team NZ "re-launch" in 2000.
Tom Schnackenberg was described by Russell Coutts in 2000 as the only person that Team New Zealand couldn't replace. The son of an engineer, Schnackenberg was a top scholar at Auckland Grammar before studying Nuclear Physics, switching to a career in sail design at Norths, one year short of completing his PhD. He bought to Team New Zealand the combination of engineering intellect, analysis and had that unique ability to think laterally and be able to co-ordinate the component approach to design that was the hall-mark of New Zealand's America's Cup design in 1995, 2000 and 2003. After the events of April and May 2000 it fell on Tom's shoulders to re-build Team New Zealand, and at that point the outcome of the 2003 Defence was always going to be a huge ask - given the resources available in a country the size of New Zealand, the loneliness of the Defender, and the huge loss of talent and experience that had occurred.
We wish him well
KS040705
Louis Vuitton Act 5 DAY 3: Emirates Team NZ emerge as top Challenger from Valencia.
Emirates Team New Zealand emerged as the top challenger carrying maximum points from the Valencia regattas forward for the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.
The
pre-regattas this year and in 2006 carry points which count forward to the
Louis Vuitton Cup, the Challengers’ elimination series, in 2007. The winner
of the Louis Vuitton Cup will challenge Alinghi for the America’s Cup.
Luna Rossa, with a third overall in Act 4, and first in Act 5, is second
challenger. As the defender of the America’s Cup, Alinghi’s results are
removed from the reckoning.
Grant Dalton said after racing today their result was very satisfying for the team. 'We came here to get some answers and we got them. We know where we have to sharpen our act, but we are really encouraged as we develop towards 2007.
'It could be argued that the fleet racing is irrelevant in the America’s Cup, which is a match racing regatta. We believe the Acts are important in terms of developing the team, but the big game doesn’t start until 2007.'
The team will remember fondly two races in Act 5 – the first and the third – when the team sailed well to win. Three other races, when NZL 82 finished ninth in race two, fifth in race four yesterday and a sixth today, will be remembered for the mistakes that cost so dearly.
'We arrived in Valencia saying we were here looking for some answers about how we stacked up against the opposition after our testing programme in Auckland. 'We got a lot of the answers. Alinghi has improved, but the speed edge we saw in Auckland in 2003 has almost disappeared. BMW Oracle is still dangerous, as is Luna Rossa. Crew skill levels are high. 'Nipping at the heels are two really dark horses – Sweden and Spain. They didn’t race last year and they have performed very well right through both regattas.
'Sweden performed well in the fleet racing and today Spain won on their home patch. 'We have had very tough match races against Spain, Sweden and FRA 60. They are teams to watch.' Dalton said the team’s crew work was most often spot on. 'I would say that we made fewer mistakes than just about every other team. The boys are very hard on themselves when they make a mistake – and so far they have never made the same mistake twice.' 'Fleet racing may be irrelevant to the America’s Cup, but it’s still a good way to measure progress. What it showed here is that unless you sail superbly right from the moment you enter the pre-start, you’re not going to do very well.'
Source: www.emiratesteamnz.com
Louis Vuitton Act 5 DAY 2: Emirates Team NZ runs hot and cold.
Emirates Team NZ had another tale of a good race and a bad race on the second day of fleet racing at Valencia.
In a flawless
first race of the day, NZL 82 established a lead almost from the start. They
controlled the race from the front through four legs all the way to the
finish. The win gave the team 28 points after three races, taking them back
to the top of the Louis Vuitton Act 5 leaderboard, in front of SWE 63 and
Alinghi, both on 27.
Terry Hutchinson, tactician on the Kiwi boat commented, 'in the first race, Dean did a great job on the helm and we were able to get a good lead on BMW Oracle. Once we were in the lead, it wasn’t easy to stay there, but we were comfortable – more or less. We just had to protect our lead and that’s what we did.'
A penalty incurred as NZL 82 rounded a congested first mark in the second race effectively took any chance of repeating the win.
Rounding the mark in third place, only 19 seconds off the pace, NZL 82 fell back to 10th on completing the 360 deg turn. While the breeze down the leg was a better 10–12 knots, the crew was given few opportunities to dig themselves out of a deep hole.
Slowly, NZL 82 started threading its way back through the fleet, as the crew worked on a damage limitation strategy to salvage as many points as possible from the race.
By the end of the run, NZL82 was eighth, then after the second windward beat, she was sixth, but fleet leader SWE 63 was sailing away with more pressure.
The breeze softened to 7-8 knots as the race progressed further, limiting NZL 82’s chances of climbing back into the top three. NZL 82 finished sixth.
This result took the Kiwis from first on the leaderboard, to fourth equal on 35 points with BMW Oracle. Sweden leads on 38 points with Alinghi second on 37 and Luna Rossa third on 36.
Earlier, NZL 82 took control of the first race of the day. Claiming the pin end of the start, line NZL 82 took the left and soon had their bow in front. The lead extended slowly, with USA 76 sitting right on NZL 82 and only a few metres behind.
Crew worked to establish control, they sailed well to control the race and beat back some determined attacks by BMW Oracle and Alinghi.
Hutchinson said, 'we did at the start what we wanted to do, and although we got the left side of the course, it wasn’t enough to pull us out of the traffic, so when we went for the lay line, we didn’t have enough room, so we got the penalty fault on Luna Rossa and Desafio Español.
'Dean and I are still building an intuitive sailing relationship and that requires more practice. We work well together and we have two years until 2007.'
Source: www.emiratesteamnz.com
Louis Vuitton Act 5
DAY 1: Emirates Team NZ off to a fast start and slow end.
Emirates Team NZ
had a good and bad day on the first day of fleet racing in Act 5 of the
America’s Cup pre-regattas; winning the opening race, then finishing ninth
in the second.
Light winds and tricky sailing conditions prevailed for the racing, turning the rooster in the opening race into a feather duster in the second.
Mascalzone Latino, last in race one, won race two successfully, threading their way through a minefield created by light and fickle wind.
NZL 82 sensationally won the first race in the last 300-400 metres, but in race two, the crew could not recover from a poor start and finished ninth.
Regatta heavyweights, BMW Oracle and Alinghi, also had an indifferent day. Oracle had two fifth's and Alinghi a third and a seventh.
For ETNZ, a good start in race one converted to a second placing behind Luna Rossa for most of the race. Towards the end of the second run, in spite of tearing a spinnaker, the Italians took the lead and won.
Grant Dalton
said that today’s racing demonstrated again, that on any given day, any
yacht in the fleet can win. 'Today we saw some of the less fancied teams,
like Mascalzone Latino and +39 for example, come through the fleet to win.
That shows just how close the boats are in performance terms and that’s
really good for the competition and public interest.
'It also shows that no one can take anything for granted in Valencia. To win you have to be on top of your game at every start – and have a little luck as well. Today the team didn’t do so badly – the breeze won the day.'
Skipper Dean Barker, while happy with the win in the first race, was less than happy with the performance in race two.
'In race one we sailed well. We hung on to Luna Rossa, but it looked like they had the race sewn up. Then they made a couple of bad decisions on the last run and suddenly it was game on.
'It was one of those times when we had to make many split second decisions and ours were the right ones. We should not have ripped two spinnakers, but I think we earned the win by being right up there and taking the opportunity when it was presented.
'In race two we had an average start and then didn’t sail very well at all. Everything we did just wasn’t right. We missed some shifts on the first beat and it was impossible to recover.'
Source: www.emiratesteamnz.com
DAY 6: Emirates Team NZ beat BMW Oracle for second overall.
While neither team could win Louis Vuitton Act 4, both Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing were keen to secure second place overall. The prestart was moderately aggressive, with the teams opting for a split tack start. NZL-82 took the port hand or pin end. With a man up the mast wind-spotting, Emirates Team New Zealand headed to the port layline, on starboard tack and secured a nice shift in the light SE breeze.
After tacking onto port, and paralleling BMW Oracle, NZL-82 had moved into a lead of over 40 metres which increased 100 metres, and both proceeded to sail up the centre of the course. Emirates TNZ stayed well to weather and continued to lift slightly on the USA challenger. They were always keen to protect the left hand side of the course and slowly extended the margin over BMW Oracle to 160 metres. Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
BMW Oracle picked up a small shift and came back just short of the starboard layline, however the move was more of a nuisance for the Kiwis who tacked to cover and respond forcing BMW Oracle back out to starboard again and away from the favoured port side of the course. These tactics continued to the end of the first leg before Emirates Team NZ decided to begin to sail their own race applying only a loose cover to USA-76. In a coup de grace NZL-82 moved across to the starboard layline and USA-76, one last time, gassing BMW Oracle and forcing them out high of the layline while Emirates Team NZ headed for the first mark rounding 32 seconds ahead which translated to a 140 metre lead down the first leeward leg.
From there on the race turned into a series of loose covering defensive moves, which became a little more earnest as BMW Oracle closed in, and a little more relaxed as Emirates Team NZ got the advantage and could ease away. There was a course change signaled at the leeward mark for the first time, indicating that the wind had shifted 15degrees to port – which was an indication of the shift that Emirates Team NZ were able to hook into on the first leg. At Mark 2 the margin was only a second less than it had been at the top and this translated into 110 metres for the work to windward. Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
The breeze freshened to 11-12kts for the second beat, after heading out on starboard and then back on port, BMW Oracle tired of paralleling Emirates Team NZ and engaged in a low speed tacking due in an effort to try and pull the Kiwis back within striking distance. In spite of making a small but encouraging gain, NZL-82 sailed a very canny race and was usually able to keep the margin to around 100metres, in spite of having to respond to a series of tacks up the middle of the course every 30-40 seconds.
As they closed to wards the top mark, BMW Oracle continued to dictate the terms and trying to get the Kiwis out of phase, with the lead flicking between 90 and 110 metres. Emirates Team NZ were able to position themselves for an easy bearaway set around the top mark for the final time – still a reasonably comfortable 23 seconds ahead of the US Challenger which translated to 120metres on the water.
Downwind for the last time, both yachts carried gennaker staysails in the breeze which had faded a little to 11 kts and had continued to move left. BMW Oracle again attempted to engaged NZL-82, but although a good gain was made, it was not enough and Emirates Team NZ was prepared to spend their lead to win the race – with the winning margin being 17 seconds.
More to follow:
KS220605
Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
DAY 5: Emirates Team NZ fate decided at the start.
America’s Cup holder, Alinghi won the top of the table clash against old rivals Emirates Team New Zealand.
Emirates Team New Zealand had its first loss of the Valencia when it faced Alinghi, its nemesis of the 2003 America’s Cup. The match was the top of the table battle as previously both were tied on points.
Conditions were the harshest of the regatta with 15-17 kts of breeze and
moderate seas. On the other courses there was considerable damage,
particularly amongst the less experienced challengers.
After a split tack start when both sides wanted the starboard side, Alinghi got away on port, and came back on a good shift, bouncing Emirates TNZ back onto the port side. This tactic continued for the remainder of the beat until the boats reached the starboard layline.
At that point the margin was about 30 metres in Alinghi’s favour however as the boats took the long lay through on starboard, the Swiss Defender stretched their lead out to 60 metres and then 80 metres. With spinnakers set for the first downwind leg, Alinghi had a lead of about 160 metres or 31 seconds. Team NZ were able to grind into Alinghi’s lead on the first leeward leg, but never got close enough to seriously threaten.
Going to windward for the final time, Alinghi knew they only had to defend their lead which was never seriously threatened with Emirates TNZ about 100 metres adrift, closing slightly at the top mark.
After the race, Emirates TNZ CEO, Grant Dalton commented that: ‘We didn’t expect to come through this regatta unscathed.’ ‘We worked hard to make up the deficit and on occasions pulled back a lot of distance but it just wasn’t our day.’ ‘Today was a reality check. We came here to measure our progress against the opposition since the regattas in September last year. We know we have a way to go.
’ ‘We didn’t go out on the water today just to eat our lunch. Nor when we lost the start did we sit back and wait for a miracle to happen. We went out to win and we worked to make it happen.’ ‘If there was something to learn from today it was that if, on these short courses you let a class act get in front of you, there’s little chance of getting back into the race. But we knew that already.’ Skipper Dean Barker was equally frank in his comments ‘we didn’t get the start we wanted….. our plan was to get started and Alinghi had the advantage and that was that. Then we gave them five or six boat lengths when we swapped sides near the end of the first beat.’ ‘We gained some distance on the first down-wind leg and then they opened up again and they gave us no real opportunities.’ ‘We were pleased with the crew work and they way we sailed. It was a good race, but the outcome didn’t give us any joy.’ Tactician Terry Hutchison conceded the race was pretty well lost at the start ‘We wanted starboard at the start because we knew whoever got starboard would win the race. And that’s what happened. We had good control of the pre-start until about 1min30 before the gun – then SUI 75 got the upper hand and that was it.’ ‘We made some gains and losses throughout the race. I can’t say enough for the crew. They worked and worked. Crew work was really excellent. The boat may have been slightly off the pace, but that’s not why we lost,’ he concluded
In the second race of the day against the South African Shosholoza, NZL 82 won by 4 minutes. Tomorrow Emirates Team NZ face BMW Oracle in their last match of the regatta, and the two will battle for second place.
Results today: Race 7 SUI 75 beat NZL 82 by 36 sec ESP 67 beat ITA 59 by 51 sec SWE 63 beat ITA 77 by 2 min 21 sec ITA 74 beat RSA 83 by 1 min 39 sec USA 76 beat FRA 60 by 1 min 32 sec GER 72 beat CHN 69 by 44 sec
Race 8 NZL 82 beat RSA 83 by 4 min SWE 63 beat Luna Rossa by 35 sec USA 76 beat ITA 74 56 sec SUI 75 beat FRA 60 by 1 min 22 sec CHN 69 did not start. Race to ITA 77. ITA 59 did not start. Race to GER 72.
Points after 10 races: 10: Alinghi 9: Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW Oracle 8: Luna Rossa 6: Defasio Espanol 5: Victory Challenge 3: +39, Mascalzone Latino, United Internet Germany, K Challenge 1: China Team 0: Shosholoza
DAY 4: NZL-82 Scores two more in Valencia Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
It was another good day for Emirates Team New Zealand on the fourth day of the Louis Vuitton Act 4 at Valencia, winning both races.
The first race today was against The Swedish Victory Challenge, a team with three wins for the regatta.
Skipper Dean Barker said before the race: “We have a healthy respect for the Swedes. We saw how they performed in Auckland and 2003 and we know how well their boat can perform.”
It was another hot day in Valencia. The temperature reached 30 deg in the late afternoon. The sea breeze from the south-east was around 10 – 12 knots.
Barker and his crew started very well, forcing SWE63 out of the start box. NZL 82 got away cleanly, picking up a line of breeze on the left of the course and were leading by about 3½ boat lengths.
SWE 63 recovered well, got a good shift, and started pulling back the deficit. The first beat was close. At times almost too close.
SWE 63 put on the pressure and kept it on for the entire race as they sought a way round NZL 82. But there was no way NZL 82 was going to let them open up a separation, and possibly find a better breeze and slip by.
The grinders worked overtime – 24 tacks in the 2.2 mile leg – as the afterguard worked to keep SWE 63 under control. So close was the racing there was no margin for error or gear damage. NZL 82 rounded the first mark 12 sec ahead; the second mark 23 sec ahead.
On the second beat – again doing 24 tacks as the Swedes attempted to break out of the Kiwi stranglehold. the margin was extended by only 2 sec to 25 sec at the third mark and at the finish SWE 63 trailed by 24 sec.
In the second race of the day NZL 82 beat the China Team (CHN 69) by a comfortable 1 min 58 sec. NZL 82 was never troubled, winning the start and sailing away while maintaining a loose cover.
By the end of the first leg, NZL 82 had a 1 min 14 sec advantage, extended to 1 min 24 at the leeward gate and to 1 min 50 at the third mark.
The team has two big days ahead. Tomorrow Emirates Team New Zealand meets Alinghi (SUI 75) and Shosholoza (RSA 83). On Tuesday, in the last race of this regatta, NZL 82 races against BMW Oracle.
Results today: Race 7 NZL 82 beat SWE 63 by 24 sec SUI 75 beat ESP 67 by 1 min 33 sec ITA 74 beat CHN 69 by 1min 22 sec ITA 59 beat FRA 60 beat 41 sec ITA 77 beat RSA 83 by 1 min 17 sec USA 76 beat GER 72 by 1 min 31 sec
Race 8 NZL 82 beat CHN 69 by 1 min 58 sec SUI 75 beat ITA 77 by 2min 8 sec ITA 74 beat ITA 59 by 2 min 10 sec FRA 60 beat SWE 63 by 58 sec USA 76 beat ESP 67 by 1 min 49 sec GER 72 beat RSA 83 by 6 sec
Points after eight races: 8: ETNZ, Alinghi 7: BMW Oracle , Luna Rossa 4: Defasio Espanol 3: Victory Challenge, K Challenge 2: +39, Mascalzone Latino, United Internet Germany, 1: China Team 0: Shosholoza
Source: www.emiratesteamnz.com
DAY 3: EMIRATES TEAM NZ THE ONLY UNBEATEN CHALLENGER Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
Emirates Team NZ is the only unbeaten challenger at the end of the third day's racing in Louis Vuitton on Act 4 . Emirates Team NZ scored a moderately comfortable win of 42 seconds over Luna Rossa (ITA), however the race did have its momemts when one point Luna Rossa rolled over Emirates Team NZ on a downwind leg, however the Kiwis were able to soak away and regain the lead. A minor drama occurred when Luna Rossa split a gennaker just after a gybe, however at this point Emirates Team NZ were in front. Emirates Team New Zealand has emerged from the third day of Louis Vuitton Act 4. It was Italian day for Emirates Team New Zealand on Saturday, with matches against Luna Rossa (ITA 74), the Prada of 2000 and 2003, and +39 (ITA 59) NZL 82 had the speed it needed in the light conditions and the crew demonstrated that they were working well as a unit, even though they had done little sailing since the middle of April when NZL 82 and the Auckland base were packed up for shipping to Spain. “The boat’s better than it was last year but it’s not super fast,” Grant Dalton said after the race. “We had to work hard to gain an advantage on Luna Rossa and we had to work even harder to keep it. He said it was not difficult to see why ITA 74 was one of the favourites for the 2005 regattas. “They’re a class act. The boat’s good, and the crew is sailing well.“ The deltas tell the story. ITA 74 was awarded the start by 1 sec. NZL 82 led for most of the leg then lost it as they were closing on the mark only to regain it after a classic luffing battle which took both yachts way above the mark. NZL 82 rounded the mark 4 sec ahead, extended to 12 seconds at the second mark and 23 seconds at the third. On the run to the finish NZL 82 extended by 20 sec to finish 43 sec up. In the day’s second match +39 breathed down NZL 82’s neck on the first three legs with margins of 14 sec at the first mark, 12 sec at the second and 16 sec at the third. NZL 82 slipped away on the last downwind leg finishing 1min 8 sec ahead after +39 completed a 360 deg penalty incurred in the pre-start. Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
Four teams went into today’s racing with four wins from four races – Alinghi, BMW Oracle, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa. Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand finished the day with six wins and at the top of the leaderboard. BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa now have five wins and one loss. Tomorrow Emirates Team New Zealand meets Sweden’s Victory Challenge (SWE 63) and China Team (CHN69). In the other match between the "First Division" teams, America's Cup Defender Alinghi, beat BMW Oracle Racing.
Louis Vuitton Act 4, Valencia – Day Three After six matches, BMW ORACLE Racing is one point adrift of the leaders, with a 5-1 record.
The feature clash between BMW ORACLE Racing and the Swiss America’s Cup holders, Alinghi, was much anticipated and delivered an enthralling battle between two strong teams. But, Alinghi capitalised on a good start and protected its lead all the way round the track to register the first loss of the regatta to USA-76. In the second match, against the Italian Mascalzone Latino team, USA-76 dominated from start to finish. .
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
Match One – USA-76 vs SUI-75 Race Summary – Alinghi made a good start and jumped into an early lead. USA-76 matched the Swiss yacht for speed and then initiated a spirited tacking duel up the first windward leg, keeping the action very close all the way. SUI-75 protected its lead and allowed no passing opportunities. This was the pattern of the remainder of the race, with USA-76 always within two to three boatlengths of the Swiss yacht and constantly looking for passing opportunities. The best chance came in the final downwind leg, when the Swiss team broke their spinnaker pole, but they managed to hold their advantage and finished 27 seconds ahead of USA-76.
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
Match Two – USA-76 vs ITA-77 Race Summary – USA-76 led off the start and, early into the first windward leg, began to move out ahead of the Italian yacht. At the first mark rounding, USA-76 had established a 36-second lead and was not threatened for the remainder of the race, crossing the finish line 60 seconds in front.
Quotes Peter Isler, BMW ORACLE Racing Navigator: “The Swiss team did a nice job with their time and distance at the start. We were happy with our situation during most of the pre-start.” “We wanted the right side and we got it, but we were just a bit off with our timing. That gave the Swiss an advantage coming off the line.”
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
“We got into a straightline drag race with them and we were really happy with our boatspeed.” “Throughout the race we fought hard with tacking and gibing duels and we stayed even most of the time, but we could not get past them. Our crew work was good, the boat handling was excellent and, with one exception, our moves were crisp. It was all down to the start.”
From: www.bmworacleracing.com KS190605
DAY 2: FIRST DIVISION ALL TAKE TWO WINS EACH
Two more wins for Emirates Team New Zealand today in races three and four of the Louis Vuitton pre-regattas for the America’s Cup 2007. The other three "First Division" teams - Prada, Alinghi and BMW Oracle all did the same. The breeze was again light, creating conditions where the yacht that wins the start and takes an early lead can control the race. It was a day when you wouldn’t want to be caught on the wrong side of a wind shift. It was another hot summer’s day in Valencia. There was not a cloud in the sky and by mid-afternoon the temperature was 29 deg and the wind a light south-easterly of between 8 and 11 knots. Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
The crew sailed well today, getting two good starts and defending the right of the course against some determined attacks from both the opponents. The first race was against the Spanish challenger Desafio Espanol 2007, sailing a yacht that was campaigned by One World in Auckland in 2003. NZL 82 won the start ands claimed the right and at the first mark was 28 minutes ahead of ESP 67; at the end of the first run the gap had increased slightly to 34 seconds. NZL 82 widened the margin to 57 seconds on the second win and finished a comfortable 1min 10 sec ahead. The second race of the day, against the United Internet Team Germany, was sailed in similar conditions. NZL 82 again won the start, gained a small advantage early and was never threatened. Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
At the first mark NZL 82 was ahead by 1min 13sec; at the second mark 57 seconds ahead and extended to 2min 23sec gaining a further 10 seconds on the run to finish 2min 33sec ahead. Tomorrow Emirates Team New Zealand meets Luna Rossa in the first race and the Italian syndicate +39 in the second.
Quotes from Dean Barker:
The first race against the Spanish went pretty much as we predicted. We knew we had to sail well; they have a very boat and they are performing well. It went well for us and claimed the right and defended against some very determined attacks. We seemed to have good speed and managed to stretch to a comfortable margin. In the second race we got a really good start had an advantage at the first cross and controlled the race from there.
They were two really good races for us. The boat seems to be good in these conditions. We can be confident that we can be competitive. But we have some big races ahead of us, Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
Results today: Race 1 NZL 82 beat ESP 67 by 1min 10sec USA 76 beat ITA 59 by 1min 14sec. ITA 74 beat GER 72 by 1min 36sec SUI 75 beat SWE 63 by 33 sec FRA 60 beat ITA 77 by 53 sec CHN 59 beat RSA 83 by 27sec
Race 2 NZL 82 beat GER 72 by 2min 33sec SUI 75 beat ITA 59 by 2min 2ses SWE 63 beat CHN 69 by 2min 30sec ITA 74 beat FRA 60 by 55 sec USA 76 beat RSA 83 by 3min 37sec ESP 67 beat ITA 77.
Syndicate sail numbers: Emirates Team New Zealand – NZL82: BMW Oracle – USA76 Team Alinghi – SUI75 ; Luna Rossa – ITA74 K Challenge – FRA60: Mascalzone Latino – ITA77 +39 Challenge – ITA59: United Internet Team Germany – GER72 China Team – CHN69: Victory Challenge SWE63 Team Shosholoza – RSA83: Desafio Espanol – ESP63 Related URLs:
BMW Oracle:
Day Two - Race Summaries
BMW ORACLE Racing continued to share the top of the leaderboard in the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta in Valencia with two more wins today. Racing took place in 8-12 knots of breeze. Louis Vuitton Act 4, Valencia – Day Two Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
Match One USA-76 vs ITA-59
Sailing in an 8-9 knot breeze, the yachts got away to a split tack start, with USA-76 opting to cross the line on port tack and immediately claim the right hand side of the course. The first beat was a classic match, with the two yachts constantly converging and then tacking away again.
USA-76 fiercely protected the right hand side of the course, forcing the Italian yacht to tack away in a duel that saw the two crews completing 20 tacks on the leg. USA-76 led around the mark by 21 seconds and then stretched their lead on every successive leg to claim BMW ORACLE Racing’s third point of the regatta by 1 minute 14 seconds.
Match Two – USA-76 vs RSA-83 Race Summary – After a split tack start, BMW ORACLE Racing and the South African Shosholoza team had a close tussle in the early part of the first windward leg until USA-76 worked up under the leeward side of RSA-83 and luffed
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
hard. The South African yacht was forced almost head to wind, as USA-76 bore off on course and established a solid lead. USA-76 led around the first windward mark by 45 seconds. As the South Africans hoisted their spinnaker, the sail ripped and had to be replaced, allowing USA-76 to jump out to a commanding lead. BMW ORACLE Racing extended on the remaining two legs, to take their fourth win in four starts, leading across the finish line by 3 minutes 37 seconds.
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
KS180605
Day 1: NZL82 OPENS EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN WITH TWO WINS
Two wins from two starts today for Emirates Team New Zealand was an encouraging start to Act 4 of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup 2007 pre-regattas. Today’s conditions were fine but light. The mid-afternoon temperature reached 29 deg and the breeze was a 9-11 knots easterly. It was a good day to take the wins. There’s no such thing as an easy race in the light and K Challenge’s FRA 60 is a proven performer in a light breeze. NZL82, the defending yacht in 2003 was first up today against FR68, the yacht with which Team New Zealand successfully defended the America’s Cup in 2000.The start was fairly even, with FR68 taking the right and NZL82 going left. FR68 took an early advantage but ¾ of the way up the windward leg NZL82’s tactics paid off and they took the lead to round the mark 24 seconds in front. ETNZ’s lead was never in doubt, rounding the leeward mark 29 sec ahead, the third mark 43 seconds ahead and crossed the finish line 50 seconds. In the second race of the day, against Mascalzone Latino, NZL82 was 8 seconds ahead after the first beat, extended by 49 seconds to 1min37sec after the first downwind leg, 2min52sec after the second beat and crossed the line 2min.27sec ahead.
Quotes after today’s racing
Helmsman Dean Barker: In the light the boat that gets its nose in front
can make life difficult for the other one. When K Challenge got in front on
leg one we stayed close – and took the opportunities when we could. We know
FRA60 very well. We defended the Cup with her in 2000 and we don’t need to
be reminded that in a light breeze she takes some beating.
Tactician Terry Hutchinson: In the first race, FRA60 got a shift off the
start and grabbed the lead. We worked them hard and picked our moments to
attack, forcing them to make hard decisions. FRA60 is a dangerous boat in
the light and once we got in front we sailed defensively to stay there. Photo from www.emiratesteamnz.com
Results today: Race 1 NZL82 beat FRA68 by 51 sec USA76 beat SWE63 by 51 sec ITA74 bet ITA77 by 3min 24sec SUI75 beat CHN69 by 6min 48sec ITA59 beat RSA83 by 5min 24sec ESP67 beat GER72 4min 69 sec
Race 2 NZL82 beat ITA77 by 2min 27sec USA76 beat CHN68 by 1min 39sec ITA74 beat ESP67 by 1min 12sec GER72 beat FRA60 by 1min 2sec SWE63 beat ITA59 SUI75 beat RSA83 by 3min 30sec
Syndicate sail numbers: Emirates Team New Zealand – NZL82: BMW Oracle – USA76 Team Alinghi – SUI75 ; Luna Rossa – ITA74 K Challenge – FRA60: Mascalzone Latino – ITA77 +39 Challenge – ITA59: United Internet Team Germany – GER72 China Team – CHN69: Victory Challenge SWE63 Team Shosholoza – RSA83: Desafio Espanol – ESP63
ETNZ 170605 Day 1: BMW Oracle Racing
Match One - USA-76 vs SWE-63 BMW ORACLE Racing (USA-76) gained its first point of the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta in Valencia. BMW ORACLE Racing was leading the Swedish Victory Challenge team (SWE-63) from start to finish in the opening race of the regatta. Racing took place in a light, shifty seabreeze. USA-76 led off the startline on starboard tack. With the breeze shifting to the right, both yachts tacked early and headed for the favoured side of the track. In the early stage of the first leg, the two yachts remained close, but USA-76 made steady gains to lead around the first windward mark by 47 seconds. This gap stretched to 1 minute 20 seconds at the end of the first downwind run. Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget USA-76 opted to round the starboard mark of the leeward gate, while the Swedish team chose the port rounding. The right hand side of the course remained favoured and Sweden made a gain on the second windward beat by sailing further right and into slightly more wind pressure. USA-76 rounded the windward mark 36 seconds ahead and then stretched their advantage downwind to take a comfortable 51 second lead at the finish. Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
Match Two – USA-76 vs CHN-69 BMW ORACLE Racing completed the first day of racing in the Louis Vuitton Act 4 in Valencia with a score of two wins from two races, after a convincing victory over the China Team. The second match of the day was sailed in light winds, after the usual Valencia sea breeze made only a half-hearted appearance. USA-76 dominated the start, with both yachts crossing the line on port tack. USA-76 was to windward and ahead of CHN-69. In the early stage of the first windward leg, the yachts engaged in a short tacking duel, with USA-76 maintaining a close cover. Although BMW ORACLE Racing’s lead was never threatened, the gap between the yachts extended and contracted, with the separation sometimes as much as eight boatlengths and sometimes as little as two boatlengths. USA-76 led around the first mark by 40 seconds, but CHN-69 made a gain on the first downwind leg, to close the gap to 31 seconds at the leeward mark.For the remainder of the race, however, USA-76 extended its lead, rounding the second windward mark with a 56-second margin and crossing the finish line 1 minute 39 seconds ahead.
Photo by : Gilles Martin-Raget
BMWOracle170605
Spanish brewery Estrella Damm backs Emirates Team New Zealand
Grant Dalton has announced the final elite sponsor for Emirates TNZ
New Zealand's America's Cup challenger has gained a vital new sponsor, which will round out the elite sponsorship package for the 2007 campaign. Even better news is that it is an offshore sponsorship, cementing the international sponsorship base for the Emirates New Zealand team. With the exception of the NZ Government all the major sponsorship has been sourced from outside New Zealand, minimising the effect on other New Zealand teams seeking domestic sponsorship. The full release by Emirates Team NZ is as follows:
Emirates Team New Zealand and Spanish Brewery Estrella Damm announced today a sponsorship agreement for the teams America’s Cup campaign. Estrella Damm is the last major sponsorship deal for the team. As an elite sponsor, the Estrella Damm brand logo will appear on the yacht hulls and sails. Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the team was very happy to welcome Estrella Damm. It is a very important day for the team,” he said. “This elite sponsorship agreement is the last major piece of the team’s funding for the 2007 America’s Cup. “We welcome to the team a respected, high-profile, innovative Spanish company with a proud tradition and an ethos that fits well with the team. We will carry the Estrella Damm logo proudly into the Louis Vuitton Act 4 regatta which starts on Thursday.
“We look forward to building a strong relationship with Estrella Damm over the
next two years,” Dalton said.
“That is a daunting task. We know only too well that we face some very professional, well prepared opposition and that we cannot leave anything to chance.”
Grant Dalton said the team already had a strong Spanish connection through
principal designer Marcelino Botin.
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After
summer sailing activities have wound down on Rhode Island's Narragansett
Bay, the International 12-Metre Class Association's 2005 World Championships
will be cranking up. The event, set for September 14-18 in Newport and also
serving as the class's North American Championships, will be hosted by the
New York Yacht Club at its Harbour Court clubhouse and sponsored by The Jibe
wines of New Zealand. Expected are 16 entrants divided into divisions for
Grand Prix (Hissar, Kiwi, Kiwi Magic and US 61), Modern (Challenge 12,
Courageous, Freedom, Intrepid, Lionheart and Valiant), Classic Traditional
(American Eagle, Nefertiti, Weatherly) and Classic Vintage (Gleam, Northern
Light and Onawa). 
Schnackenberg and Team New Zealand 2007 parted company after he was only
offered a position on the design team with Andy Claughton taking over the
Design Team Co-ordinator's role. Then it was announced that Schnackenberg
was to leave the team altogether. 
Race four and
then race five today, will also be remembered for the way the crew dug deep
into their reserves, to claw their way back through the fleet in light
conditions that provided few opportunities. Dalton said after today’s
final race, 'I’m in awe of our guys. They have guts, stamina and
concentration, and they never give up. They just stuck at it right to the
end. 
