04.07.2007
Hi Dr.Krumnacker,
Sail-World.com America's Cup 2007Newsletter....
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's America's Cup newsletter for Race 7 of the 32nd America's Cup.
If you haven't caught up with the news, Alinghi won the 32nd Match for the America's Cup and became just the fourth team in the history of the America's Cup to win and defend the trophy.
Today's result was notable for being the closest finish in Cup history at just a single second margin. The Race was also notable, we think, for being the first America's Cup race in which a penalty has been awarded. And, in the end, this was one of the factors which determined the outcome of the race.
Congratulations to Alinghi on a job well done, in a most outstanding event. The Swiss Defender sailed a fine, very measured regatta in which they took a patient, very precisely positioned approach and were content, at the right times, to let the boat do the work for them. Ed Baird sailed outstandingly, and Alinghi was superbly skippered by Brad Butterworth.
For Emirates Team New Zealand, they turned in another very competitive performance and restored a small nation's self-belief, after the debacle of 2003. Dean Barker rose to the occasion as both skipper and helmsman. Grant Dalton as floater and CEO also provided tremendous leadership and frankness. They will not realise the effect they have had on New Zealand until they arrive home.
This was a race the Emirates Team New Zealand had to win to stay alive in the regatta. NZL-92 started well, working the 15 knot seabreeze to perfection and grinding out a useful lead only to have it reclaimed when Alinghi picked up on the starboard hand layline.
Then there was the luffing match close to the end of Leg 1, which gave Alinghi a useful lead at the top mark.
Downwind we saw NZL-92 climb back into Alinghi, taking 21 seconds out of the Defender by the leeward gate. While many were quick to criticise NZL-92 for their choice of gate at the bottom, the GPS positions show they emerged with an increased lead, allowing for the extra tack to get on Alinghi's line.
Again, it was Alinghi calling the action from the starboard layline, and NZL-92 entering this phase with a useful lead which was soon all but spent.
That left the Kiwis to break off and try to jag a header going to the top mark, but as so often has happened in this regatta, the wind came from the right, and Alinghi rotated nicely to be able to survive and approached the top mark with starboard rights.
Then came the bear away and penalty which we have described in our report along with GPS shots. The key is that Alinghi, as right of way boat, must not sail below 90 degrees from the wind direction, and NZL-92 must keep clear as the port tack boat. Alinghi lined up NZL-92 and the penalty was awarded.
God was trying very hard to prove that He was Kiwi in the closing stages of the final leg - as the seabreeze swung and dropped , with New Zealand highly favoured and she soon wiped out Alinghi's lead.
That left the penalty turn, which was cleared just short of the finish, however NZL-92 was unable to re-build speed and lost in the narrowest margin in the history of the America's Cup.
In many ways this final race highlighted the differences between the Challenger and Defender.
Alinghi had a slight edge in upwind speed, but one which Emirates Team New Zealand was able to offset with a canny ability to play the shifts. The right hand side of the course which had served Emirates Team New Zealand so well in the Louis Vuitton Cup, became Alinghi's domain in the America's Cup, and that was really the first difference between the Challenger and Defender.
The second was in tactics, where Emirates Team New Zealand's greatest strength became their greatest weakness. Their crew work which had been worked and honed to perfection, seemed to cause them to take come high risk options, which if everything worked perfectly would come off. But unfortunately that was not always the case and we saw some real snafus develop as a result. These allowed Alinghi back into the game when NZL-92 was in the lead, and should have had the race in the bag.
Between the two yachts, there seemed little difference in speed. Alinghi having a touch more consistent pace upwind; with NZL-92 showing a surprising burst of speed downwind.
The difference in the afterguards lay in the fact that Alinghi's seemed to be able to think a longer term strategy than Emirates Team New Zealand. SUI-100 seemed to be able to enter most tactical situations with a viable exit strategy, where Emirates Team New Zealand seemed to take a more opportunistic approach. Alinghi also seemed to be more able to sail within their capabilities, button off when required, let the boat do the work for them, and then strike again at the next opportunity. They were very prepared to lose the odd battle in order to win the war.
Emirates Team New Zealand pushed the envelope too hard on too many occasions, when under pressure. Certainly they had confidence in their boat handling ability, but sometimes that was an over confidence, almost arrogance. Alinghi on the other hand reflected the four winning America's Cup campaigns amongst their Kiwi Tight Five, and knew when to push, and when to back off. Trading small losses for bigger, later gains.
In light airs, Murrays Jones' calls from the masthead were perfection, and another strength of NZL-92 from the LVC, was somewhat neutralised.
Alinghi always seemed to have a very fine sense of boat positioning on the course, better than Emirates Team New Zealand. Maybe this was due to the experience of the Tight Five, and Brad Butterworth in particular; Ed Baird's skill and experience; or the readout on Baird's glasses (believed to show boat position on the course); or an amalgam of all three.
The Challenger of Record and date of the 33rd America's Cup is yet to be announced, however the CoR will be a group associated with Desafio Espanol (ESP). If the Cup is scheduled for 2009, as expected, it will clash with the Volvo Ocean Race, and crew commitments that have been already made for that race. One of those affected will be Ray Davies of Emirates Team New Zealand who will skipper one of the seven entries to date in the Volvo.
An early date for the next America's Cup will clearly work Emirates Team New Zealand's way.
Although they were obviously beaten in the Match, Emirates Team NZ and Alinghi, are a significant jump ahead of the other Challengers - be it from the Class of 2007, or new entrants. The early date will also reduce campaign costs, both in term of salaries and research and development. If Valencia is announced as the venue, then the bases can be retained.
The test for the Kiwis will be to hold their professional Team together. The announcement that the New Zealand Government will contribute $10million 'seed money' should enable them to plan with some certainty, and maintain momentum going into a 2009 Match.
Equally for Alinghi, their task will be to hold a Defence team together, particularly given the average age of their current crew, which is 12 years older than NZL-92's. What direction Russell Coutts chooses to take, and who goes with him, is another factor.
Finally, this is the penultimate of Sail-World's America's Cup newsletters. It has been a pleasure to produce these, and we trust they have been of interest.
From here on, all America's Cup news will be covered in Sail-World.Com's regular newsletters and websites - except for the announcement on Thursday of the Protocol for the 33rd America's Cup Match, Venue and ramifications of both those decisions.
Our thanks to all our contributors, sponsors and supporters - and particularly our readers for your feedback.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
Fisher's View: They don't come any closer
Just one second separated the two boats in the final race of the 32nd America's Cup after a massive wind shift in sight of the finishing line that almost turned the tables and would have done but for the penalty that Team New Zealand incurred earlier....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35325&ntid=58
Alinghi take the most amazing race in America's Cup history
Emirates Team New Zealand entered from the starboard, or Committee Boat end, with Alinghi coming in from the port end. Conditions are stronger than forecast with a breeze of 15 knots from 136 degrees (SE) on the course. Alinghi luffs, NZL-92 dives deep and then comes up underneath Alinghi who can't gybe in front of NZL-92 who has control of the start. Boats are below the startline heading past the Committee boat, both on port....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35314&ntid=58
Images from Race 7 - 32nd America's Cup
Images from Race 7 - 32nd America's Cup...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35334&ntid=58
'Right now, it's like your heart has been dug out with a spoon.'
Team NZ's latest campaign ended today in a heart-breaking defeat in race seven, when a bad wave they hit just out from the finish line off Valencia allowed Swiss defenders Alinghi to sneak past. The final margin was just one second, but enough to allow Alinghi to complete a 5-2 scoreline and ensure the Cup stayed in Europe....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35332&ntid=58
Alinghi win 32nd America's Cup
Alinghi won the 32nd America's Cup on Tuesday afternoon on the waters off Valencia. The Swiss Defender won its fourth consecutive race in dramatic fashion, to win the Match 5-2. This final race of the America's Cup was befitting of what has been the closest, most exciting America's Cup in recent history....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35329&ntid=58
Bertarelli still alive - and kicking - SailJuice
Bizarrely, there was no joint press conference for winner and loser today. Just the winners - Alinghi. I wonder why. Perhaps there was a clue in Ernesto Bertarelli's final comment in the winner's conference this afternoon. For us it was coming out alive or dead, and we came out of it alive with our leather shorts and our edelweiss, cuckoo clocks and chocolate factories....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35330&ntid=58
Penalty and Alinghi takes the America's Cup
A penalty on the approach to the third mark cost NZL 92 any chance of winning the seventh race of the America's Cup match. Both yachts dropped their spinnakers and went on the wind to the finish line. SUI 100 fell into a hole and NZL 92 chewed into the deficit then took the lead. Right on the line NZL 92, with almost a 70m lead, did the turn....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35328&ntid=58
Images from Prizegiving - 32nd America's Cup
Images from the Prizegiving - 32nd America's Cup...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35333&ntid=58
Quotes of the Day: America's Cup Match Race 7
Brad Butterworth, on the last run: 'Downwind turned a little bit into a minefield. I was a bit in denial that the breeze wasn't going to hold, but Warwick Fleury did a good job of coaxing us to get the jib up on deck and get things going, and in the end the penalty was worth it. If it hadn't been for the shift we would have won by over a hundred metres. It was great crew work.'...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35327&ntid=58
Valencia saves the best till Last - dramatic scenes in AC
In an America's Cup series that has been one of the best for years, Valencia, the much-maligned venue, played their Joker on the final leg of race seven and set-up a heart stopping finish...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35321&ntid=58
America's Cup 2007 Final Day Images
French photographer Gilles Martin-Raget presents a selection of images from the final race of the 32nd America's Cup as the Swiss Alinghi team triumph over Emirates Team New Zealand....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35318&ntid=58
Fisher's View: He who dares wins?
Las Provincias, the daily newspaper of Valencia, carried a front page picture of the crowds around the action at the America's Cup Port under the main headline that there had been 210,000 visitors in three days...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35312&ntid=58
Alinghi wins America's Cup 5-2
Alinghi was the first European team to win the America's Cup in 2003, and now it has achieved another first by successfully defending it in Europe. Alinghi joins Team Dennis Conner and Team New Zealand as the only crews in Cup history to win as a Challenger and Defender....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35315&ntid=58
Letter from Valencia: Wild times in The Woolshed
The Woolshed is aptly named - it is hot and crowded and there is a lot of bleating. But it is good natured as the crowd watches the large screen to see if the race will begin on time. At the 5 minute gun, the crowd erupts into a loud and enthusiastic rendition of the national anthem and my spine tingles...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35298&ntid=58
America's Cup - Alinghi by One Second
Alinghi won the 32nd America's Cup on Tuesday afternoon on the waters off Valencia. The Swiss Defender won its fourth consecutive race in dramatic fashion, by just one second to win the Match 5-2....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35316&ntid=58
Fisher's View: The 33rd America's Cup
Before Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio sounded three hoots and hoisted the Answering pennant over Code Flag 'A', there were arrangements being made ashore to celebrate Alinghi's successful defence of the Cup. Those responsible should have known that Mr. Sod would have his say and put an end to their plans....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35273&ntid=58
China Team hopes for next AC
They came last this time round but China Team are plotting a glorious America's Cup future once the spotlight turns away from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. China's first America's Cup team started off with little more than a Chinese flag, Chinese money and a Chinese dream....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35310&ntid=58
Images of Valencia: Leeward gate sequence: Race 1
Images of Valencia: Leeward gate sequence: Race 1...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35299&ntid=58
Letter from Valencia: Vocational Training center
Each day I wander down to Port America's Cup and I ponder who will win the day's race, the Kiwis or the Swiss; how will the various exchanges go, the pre-start, the first beat, the runs and all those sailing thoughts that make up a race. And I walk I past three old warehouses with young people, boys and girls making sails and repairing boats. One day I thought to myself I must call in and see what they doing, the laughter and enthusiasm always catches my attention. This is what I discovered... ...
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35287&ntid=58
SLAM sportswear at Club Marine Melbourne Boat Show
The world's best sailors are dressed by SLAM, including Russell Coutts, who has just created the innovative Russell Coutts Range of Technical Sailing Apparel in conjunction with SLAM....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35286&ntid=58
ValenciaSailing: 33rd America's Cup in Valencia?
The rumour mill has been firing up on all cylinders today in Valencia and the absence of any racing made it even worse. The word earlier this morning was to watch out for the guests aboard 'Vava', Ernesto Bertarelli's private yacht. Bertarelli is of course Alinghi's head and since his team was leading the America's Cup match 4-2 it was all too obvious, Sunday could very well be the last day of the 32nd America's Cup....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35274&ntid=58
Enter Line 7/NZL-92 Signed Shirt Sweepstakes NOW!!
Right now you can enter the new competition to win a signed Emirates Team New Zealand shirt from Line 7....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=34851&ntid=58
Signed Emirates TNZ caps for auction on Trademe
Line 7 have put up two signed Emirates Team New Zealand caps up for auction on on Trademe.co.nz The funds for these auctions will go to NZ Olympic Sailing Team and the Sir Peter Blake Trust....
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=35242&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
Win America's Cup History - 2 volume set
Enter the Sail-World online competition to win a copy of Bob Fisher's An Absorbing Interest. The definitive history of the America's Cup. 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=34307&ntid=58
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