Fotogalerie A-Cup Valencia
Emirates Team New Zealand earns a stunning victory in Race Three
Valencia, 26 June, 2007 - Emirates Team New Zealand won its second
consecutive race in the 32nd America's Cup Match, beating Alinghi by 25
seconds in a thrilling race that will go down in the books as one of the
most exciting matches in Cup history.
Racing was postponed for over two hours on a day of difficult weather
conditions on the waters off Port America's Cup. The wind was light, but
at 7 to 9 knots it was generally strong enough to race in. However there
were massive windshifts over much of the race course area. Finally, just
ahead of the 17:00 cut-off for a race start, the Race Committee was
satisfied the conditions were as good as they were going to get, and the
start sequence commenced.
The Emirates team built a massive lead early, only to see it disappear
during the middle portion of the race. The final run to the finish in a
dying breeze gave them a second a chance, and this time skipper Dean
Barker and his afterguard were up to the task, finding more wind on the
right side of the race course and streaking past Alinghi for the win
just metres from the finishing line.
Match 3 -Emirates Team New Zealand beat Alinghi - DELTA 0:25
It was another aggressive pre-start between Emirates Team New Zealand
and Alinghi, but Dean Barker managed to claim the right-hand side -
albeit at a big price. Ed Baird forced Barker to tack away with 10
seconds to the start, the Kiwis starting very downspeed and a full 8
seconds behind Alinghi who launched off to the left-hand side of the
course, 60 metres up in a very short time.
However, the slow start proved to be a price worth paying, as the Kiwis
found much better breeze on the right side of the race course. Alinghi,
still far to the left, had no answer, and could only sit and watch as
their opponents stretched to a lead of more than 300 metres. Around the
first mark, the Defender trailed by 1 minute 23 seconds.
The Swiss pulled back some distance down the run, and then at the
leeward mark the Kiwis made a very messy spinnaker drop. The red cloth
got jammed in the jib sheeting system, and trimmer Grant Loretz could
not sheet the jib in. Alinghi rounded the right-hand mark behind the
limping Kiwis, and sailed up inside their track.
Eventually the Kiwis sacrificed the spinnaker to tack and get across to
Alinghi, now just two boatlengths behind. The Kiwis didn't close cover,
perhaps due to the fickle conditions or due to ongoing equipment
problems. A battle of nerves ensued, with massive separation opening up,
Alinghi to the left, and the Kiwis to the right. When they met again in
the middle, they were neck and neck. Barker lee bow tacked underneath
Baird, and eventually bounced Alinghi off to the left again.
The close fight continued, but at the top of the course a late left-hand
shift gave Alinghi the lead, 15 seconds ahead at the final mark. Down
the run, Alinghi first protected the right, then gybed to the left,
allowing the Kiwis to take the right.
Here, again, the massive separation of more than a kilometre put Alinghi
at huge tactical risk. It was down to who would find the best of the
dying breeze. The wind on the right came good, NZL 92 sneaked into the
lead, and when the boats met again just metres from the finish line, the
Kiwis were ahead by just two boatlengths. They gybed in front of SUI 100
and crossed the line 25 seconds in front of the Swiss boat; a
breathtaking finish to an extraordinary race.
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Die Kiwis jubeln zu Recht
"Photo Gilles Martin-Raget/www.martin-raget.com"
Am Ende doch Sieg für Kiwis
Foto: ACM2007/Guido Trombetta
Kopf an Kopf Rennen
"Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com"
Alinghi holte 500m auf
Foto ACM2007/Carlo Borlenghi
Man sieht das Schwarze im Auge des Gegners
"Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com"
"Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com"
Kopf an Kopf Rennen
"Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / www.martin-raget.com"
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