24.05.2007
Sail-World.com America's Cup 2007Newsletter....
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's America's Cup newsletter for Day 7 of the Semi-Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup
Today was the freshest day of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Well, on which racing has been staged, anyway.
For fans at home it was a day of nervous anticipation. The first pictures from Valencia prompted Peter Montgomery to quip that there were 'plenty of sheep in the paddock' in response to the proliferation of whitecaps off Valencia.
The scene bought back the dark memories of Race 4 in the 31st America's Cup, where NZL-82 dropped her rig; and also Race 1, when the infamous blue bucket took centre stage.
For nervous Kiwi fans, it was a case of 'Oh ye of little faith' as NZL-92 charged through the pre-start, trapping Desafio Espanol, who looked more than a little uncomfortable in the 20knot breeze. Eventually, Dean Barker broke off and streaked for the startline jumping to a 14 second or 60metre advantage.
From there the home fans, dressed in pyjamas, rather than wet-weather gear, rode every wave with NZL-92. And as the race progressed, the nervous contemplation eased to one of admiration, for a crew that had obviously put in the hard work on the Hauraki Gulf and the European circuits.
The Spanish struggled to cope with the conditions, and could not settle into their work. Her cockpit half-flooded, ESP-97 staggered for much of the first leg, only settling down close to the first mark. By that stage the Whitbread experience aboard Emirates Team New Zealand was on full display, as the Kiwis played a safe conservative game under very difficult conditions.
In the last half of the race, the wind dropped back to 14-15 knots reducing the sea state and the Spanish looked to be more under control. However the Semi-Final at that stage was only Emirates Team New Zealand's to lose. They finally cleaned out the Ghosts of 2003, when the red spinnaker of NZL-92, crossed the finish line just under 500metres in front.
The proud record of New Zealand participation in the America's Cup was maintained - having made the Louis Vuitton Final, or sailed in the match itself, for every America's Cup in the past 20 years.
This race was also the second time in the Semi-Finals when Emirates Team New Zealand has bounced back hard from a defeat, begging the question as to whether they do have a fifth gear, or are a different proposition when they feel they have their backs to the wall.
Today's race also put to bed the claims from Spanish coach Eddie Warden-Owen that ESP-97 was performing better up the wind range while NZL-92 had gone to the light.
Time will tell, as to whether Emirates Team New Zealand do have something special in the bag. As we mentioned before, their performance in both bounce-back races was consummate. Clearly they are a team who can perform when they have to. The comments from Terry Hutchinson quoted in Andy Rice's story below on www.sailjuice.com are very telling.
Looking to the Finals, it will be interesting to see whether Emirates Team New Zealand have suffered through not having as much time as Luna Rossa, to check and re-mode; or, whether the close race and second loss to Desafio Espanol plus the heavy air work out yesterday, will prove more beneficial.
With now eight days left to the Finals, one would have thought that hard racing against strong competition would have been the better choice.
How the class act of Emirates Team New Zealand fares against the tactical brilliance of Luna Rossa is the great questions of sailing at present.
We'll know the answer in about ten days time.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
PS This America's Cup newsletter will be the last until the start of the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup on the first day of June in Valencia.
All breaking news will be covered on our website www.sail-world.com and in our three times weekly newsletters.
Fisher's View: All over
Never mind the finesse, go for the throat. That seemed to be at the back of Dean Barker's mind as he entered the start box against Karol Jablonski. The Polish helmsman of the Spanish boat had stood in Barker's way for long enough and in their seventh race, the Kiwi skipper the semi-final of the Louis Vuitton Cup should come to a close....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33966&ntid=58
Emirates Team New Zealand into Final
Emirates Team New Zealand has qualified for the Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The Kiwis defeated Desafio Espanol 2007 on Wednesday afternoon to win their Semi Final series 5-2. The Emirates squad will face Luna Rossa Challenge in the Final beginning on 1 June...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33962&ntid=58
NZL 92 goes through to the final
Going 5-2 up, NZL 92's crew sailed a great race in fresh conditions and led from start to finish. The race started with a 20-22 knot north-easterly wind across the course and a seaway. NZL 92 revelled in the conditions, looking comfortable and well in control...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33964&ntid=58
From the Blogs: SailJuice - Spanish ready for a breezy battle
As you watched the body language of the two teams when they crossed the line 1 minute 18 seconds apart, you could have been forgiven for thinking that it was the Spanish and not the laconic Kiwis who had won the day. There was not even a flicker of emotion as the New Zealanders booked their ticket into the Louis Vuitton Cup finals....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33985&ntid=58
Luna Rossa Cuptoon: Flying high on Malvarrossa Beach
Mark O'Brien who was a feature of the Louis Vuitton and America's Cups in Auckland, with his Monsta series, is in Valencia as part of the Luna Rossa team. We will be presenting Mark's latest Cup carton when available, either as a separate feature of as part of the Luna Rossa story of the day....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33988&ntid=58
From the Blogs: Tack by Tack - Mark Chisnell
14.33: The axe has swung at BMW Oracle, with skipper and helmsman, Chris Dickson, stepping off the boat. Whether it was 'self-swung', or someone did it for him is not immediately apparent... On the team's website Dickson is quoted as saying, 'We brought our best package in the Semi Finals, but we have not achieved the results we were hoping for, so in my capacity as CEO I fully support any moves that will give us a chance to win. We are a fighting team and will never give up.' You can make what you will of that......
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33979&ntid=58
Timing Sheets & Race Summaries: Semi-Final Race 7
Desafio Espanol played a typically aggressive game in the pre-start against Emirates Team New Zealand, even in the big waves that were rolling across the course. However, Dean Barker got into a controlling position and forced Karol Jablonski out beyond the right-hand end of the start box....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33970&ntid=58
Quotes of the Day, LVC Semi-Finals, Race Day 7
'We definitely appreciate the weeks and the months we sailed in the Hauraki Gulf with conditions very much like today, and it has been worth its weight in gold. The nice thing is you have confidence in your equipment and in the guys around you, after close racing in those conditions in-house to go out and treat it like a ten knot day....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33967&ntid=58
Bob Fisher's - An Absorbing Interest
The Definitive History of the America's Cup from 1851 to 2003, written by Bob Fisher. Its two volumes covers the drama, boat design, personalities and sheer fascination of the America's Cup....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33691&ntid=58
From the Blogs: BMWOR - Post Semi-Finals - moving right along
This morning has dawned grey and very windy. In fact it blew hard all night. Normally that would make it a bit hard to sleep -- whether in apartment buildings downtown, or here at home in the hills northwest of VLC. However, one suspects that, for an emotionally and physically drained team, getting and staying asleep last night was not difficult. Certainly not for your Ed....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33923&ntid=58
Desafio Espanol down to Emirates Team New Zealand
Desafio Espanol 2007 team managed for the first time in the history of Spanish participation in the America's Cup to qualify for the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals. Today the advance of the Spanish team in the 32nd America's Cup came to an end after losing to Emirates Team New Zealand....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33965&ntid=58
From the Blogs: - Mark Chisnell: And then there were Two
So I'm sure there will be a lot of talk about Chris Dickson stepping off the Oracle boat - was he pushed or did he jump - but in a sense, it's already history. A more interesting question is - where does the team go from here? Will Larry stay with it, after a second disappointment? It might be worth it - Prada had a great first challenge, followed it up with a no-expense-spared and disappointing second,...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33981&ntid=58
The Enersen Files: From the LVC Press Boat, Day 5
Once in a while I get it right. This has been a fine time to visit the venue of the 32nd America's Cup. The weather has been fine, most of the folks I wanted to see are here and the racing has been, well, interesting. LUNA ROSSA is just now rounding the second weather mark. BMW is rounding now. It took me 54 seconds to write the first two sentences of this paragraph....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33941&ntid=58
Cup Comment: Thanks for the 'Cutlerisms', John
One of the great delights in this Louis Vuitton Cup regatta has been the 'Cutlerisms', as fans are treated to an on-board commentary from Desafio Espanol strategist and Technical Director John Cutler. Sadly, in spite of numerous request from organisers, he seems to be the only one to be miked up and providing a great insight into how these boats are run and how easily a race can be turned by a positive approach, and some self-belief....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33957&ntid=58
The Enersen Files: Life aboard the the Louis Vuitton Yacht
I'm out of the ruck and scrum of ink-stained wretches into the lap of nautical luxury, thanks to Christine Belanger, Director of the Louis Vuitton Cup. We were seated at the same table during the very elegant SINS dinner, hosted by LV, on Thursday last when she invited me to watch Sunday's races from her VIP boat. As I write, I am seated on a beautiful leather couch with my laptop, and a glass of Moet champagne, resting on a beautiful inlaid teak coffee table. I'll be all right, I think....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33944&ntid=58
From the Blogs: SailJuice - Spanish ready for a breezy battle
If the two teams do get racing in the stronger breezes that are now blowing in Valencia, you'd think the Kiwis' boathandling would see them safely through. But Desafio coach Eddie Warden Owen doesn't see it that way. 'In the two crucial gybes in Sunday's race, the Kiwis made mistakes, they gybed too fast, they weren't sure what we were doing, and our guys really handled it very well....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=33935&ntid=58
New America's Cup DVD released - a Must Buy!
The second in a series of America's Cup DVD's has been released by New Zealand based production company, Mediawave. An outstanding production, this DVD is notable not only for capturing the highlights of the 12 Louis Vuitton Acts sailed in four countries. The camera work is outstanding as is the sight of AC yachts racing against the scenic backdrops of Valencia (Spain), Marseille (France), Malmo (Sweden) and Trapani (Italy)....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=32057&ntid=58
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