17.06.2005
Two more wins in the light for Emirates Team New Zealand
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 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.
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.
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.
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 4 beat FRA 60 by 55 sec
USA 76 beat RSA 83 by 3min 37sec
ESP 67 beat ITA 77.
Points after four races:
4: ETNZ, Alinghi, BMW Oracle , Luna Rossa
2: Victory Challenge, Defasio Espanol
1: +39, K Challenge, United Internet Germany, China Team
0: Shosholoza, Mascalzone Latino
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
Contacts: Warren Douglas Miriam Torres
+34 600 940 652 +34 647 822 265
Warren.douglas@emiratesteamnz.com miriamtb@yahoo.com
www.emiratesteamnz.com
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