20.06.2005
Alinghi claims the top of the table on a day when strong winds come to the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts
Valencia, 20th June, 2005 - Big breeze came to the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts on Monday, and with it more challenges for the crews competing. For some of the newer, smaller teams, the wind strength took them to their limits and beyond. For the bigger teams, the stronger conditions provided useful tests of people and equipment.
The sea breeze built early and strong, peaking near 20-knots on both race courses, easing only towards the end of the second flight of races on the day. All 12 teams made it through the first flight of races (Shosholoza scored as not finishing, but this was due to not completing a penalty obligation, rather than equipment failure), but between flights China Team broke their boom and retired from racing for the day. +39 Challenge also retired at the start of their race, handing an easy point to their rivals Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team.
The Southern race course featured Alinghi against Emirates Team New Zealand, a battle of two unbeaten teams. Alinghi revelled in the strong winds and dispatched the Kiwis without too much trouble. With the victory, Alinghi cements its place at the top of the table. Luna Rossa Challenge faces the Swiss team on Tuesday, but Alinghi has won the regatta; even if it loses to the Italians, it is favoured in all possible tie-break scenarios.
The United Internet Team Germany continues to be a pleasant surprise, earning their third win of the Act over China Team in the opening flight. The Germans sailed for just one week before racing began, but despite the lack of preparation, the team sits equal seventh, ahead of China Team and the South Africans.
Flight Nine
Closest on the North course was the match between the Spanish on Desafío Español 2007 and +39. The start proved troublesome for +39 who were over the line early and were late to dive back to restart. The Italian team, led by British Olympic gold medalist Iain Percy, grafted away and had pulled back to within two boat lengths of the Spanish after three legs. However on rounding the top mark for the second time, the Italian team pulled up their big spinnaker while sailing at too slow a speed causing the spinnaker to explode. While the Italian team sorted out the mess astern of them, Desafío Español was able to hold its lead through the finish, putting them within spitting distance of the 'big four' teams in the overall points.
Racing was also close between China Team and United Internet Team Germany, where the German team had the upper hand for a majority of the race save for the first leeward gate rounding when the Chinese briefly pulled ahead. However Jesper Bank's crew showed better boat handling in the conditions and went on to score their third point.
Meanwhile Victory Challenge earned their fourth point with a straight forward win over Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team. The story was the same in the match for Luna Rossa despite a fighting start by the South African team and for Larry Ellison's BMW ORACLE Racing against K-Challenge, the big teams reindexing unshaken .
Flight Ten
The stronger conditions began to take their toll in the second set of matches. China Team retired with a broken boom, allowing Desafío Español a walk-over win. Against Mascalzone Latino-Capitialia, +39 went through the pre-start, but equipment problems forced them to abandon the race without starting.
Victory Challenge was pushed hard all the way by the surging German team, but in the end the Swedes clung to the lead earning a point that leaves them in a fight with the Spanish for fifth place overall. Their match tomorrow will determine this.
On the South race course all eyes were focussed on BMW ORACLE Racing against Luna Rossa. This showed promise early with the Italians fighting hard to stay in touch with the Americans who had won the start. A close mark rounding at the top mark and some good downwind sailing saw Luna Rossa surge ahead, but BMW ORACLE helmsman Gavin Brady recovered the lead just before the leeward gate. Then, disaster struck the Italians who had trouble with their spinnaker drop, the sail streaming behind them in the water. By the time the crew got the mess cleaned up, Brady and his team had sailed off into the distance and on towards victory.
Luna Rossa later filed a request for redress with the Jury. A hearing has been scheduled for 09:30 on Tuesday morning.
The results mean the final flight of matches, scheduled for Tuesday, will determine whether BMW ORACLE Racing or Emirates Team New Zealand claim second place behind Alinghi. This match is scheduled on the North race course. On the South course, the Spanish face Victory Challenge. Although Spain leads by a point, a victory by the Swedes would vault them into a tie, and they would win the tie-break by virtue of victory. Conditions are expected to be similar with moderate to strong sea breezes forecast.
Results
Flight Nine
Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 67) beat +39 Challenge (ITA 59) - delta 0:51
United Internet Team Germany (GER 72) beat China Team (CHN 69) - delta 0:44
Victory Challenge (SWE 63) beat Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (ITA 77) - delta 2:21
Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 74) won; Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) did not finish
BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 76) beat K-Challenge (FRA 60) - delta 1:32
Alinghi (SUI 75) beat Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 82) - delta 0:36
Flight Ten
Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 67) won; China Team (CHN 69) did not start
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (ITA 77) won; +39 Challenge (ITA 59) did not start
Victory Challenge (SWE 63) beat United Internet Team Germany (GER 72) - delta 0:35
BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 76) beat Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 74) - delta 0:56
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 82) beat Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) - delta 4:00
Alinghi (SUI 75) beat K-Challenge (FRA 60) - delta 1:22
Points Leaderboard
Alinghi 10
Emirates Team New Zealand 9
BMW ORACLE Racing 9
Luna Rossa Challenge 8
Desafío Español 2007 6
Victory Challenge 5
+39 Challenge 3
K-Challenge 3
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team 3
United Internet Team Germany 3
China Team 1
Team Shosholoza 0
Contacts:
32nd America's Cup Press Office
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http://media.americascup.com
head of Media
Marcus Hutchinson
media@americascup.com
+34 96 354 2007
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