26.06.2005
Valencia acts end with Emirates Team NZ top challenger
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 four 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 that the 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 9th in race two, 5th in race four yesterday and 6th today, will be remembered for the mistakes that cost so dearly.
Race four and the 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.
Grant 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.
“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 has 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. And 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.”
Results from today’s final race
Desafío Español 2007
12
Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team
11
Victory Challenge
10
Luna Rossa Challenge
9
Alinghi
8
Emirates Team New Zealand
7
+39 Challenge
6
China Team
5
K-Challenge
4
BMW ORACLE Racing
3
United Internet Team Germany
2
Team Shosholoza
1
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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