16/10/11 Stadium Spectacle on day 4 and Emirates Team New Zealand Holed
On a day when the wind arrived in Almeria, bringing up to 18 knots, the action ramped up a few gears. The spectators were treated to a spectacular display of Extreme 40 close combat racing inside the stadium of the port of Almeria. The Swiss team of Alinghi lead overall scoring three firsts and three seconds in the ten races today – Tanguy Cariou’s team head into the final day of Act 8 with an 18 point advantage over Italy’s Luna Rossa and any of the top seven teams are still in contention for a podium place here at the penultimate Act of the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series.
The victims, Emirates Team New Zealand hit by Groupe Edmond de Rothschild – the sound of the collision stopped the crowd in their tracks and ended the Kiwis day with a gaping hole in the stern of their port hull. Back on shore the damage also proved to extensive to repair overnight and Act 8 is over for Adam Beashel’s team: _“We were comfortably sailing on starboard tack with Groupe Edmond de Rothschild sailing _ said Beashel. “It was only at the last second that I saw them bow down behind us, trying to get behind but there just wasn’t any room. There was a loud bang and a collision and they went into our transom. Unfortunately it’s not going to be an overnight fix either so this is the end of the regatta for us. The boat can be fixed before Singapore and we can only hope that we have done enough in the interim and let the jury decide how it is best decided on from here. Hopefully, it will turn into something salvageable for the season.”
Emirates Team New Zealand Holed in Crash on Penultimate Day
YouTube:http://youtu.be/1rQBDJMXz2Q
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Stadium Spectacle on day 4 in Almeria for the Extreme Sailing Series
YouTube:http://youtu.be/Hkw8MPlpKic
