A big day of racing is scheduled for the final day of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta. The finalists may already be known and we will see Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli head off for all the marbles in the grand final but before that there are some very interesting line-ups. First of all NYYC American Magic will be looking to test their speed against the Kiwis ahead of Alinghi Red Bull Racing taking on the Italians. In the third race of the day, INEOS Britannia have a chance of securing an equal third place with a win over Orient Express Racing Team but the French will be no push-over.
And it’s all change on the weather front. The course today will be set perpendicular to the Barceloneta beachfront heading out to sea with an east-south-easterly infill thermal sea-breeze producing winds expected to be dynamic and in a range of 9-15 knots. Iain Murray, Race Director, noted the expected wave heights of around a metre but highlighted that some forecasters are saying this could build over the afternoon with a three-second period. It’s going to be very revealing and for the spectators, they are going to have the box-seats with the leeward gates being set just off the Port OlÃmpic.
Tune in at 14:00 CET. This is going to be very, very interesting.
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Emirates Team New Zealand (Port Entry) vs. NYYC American Magic
After yesterday’s unexpected and unfortunate breakdown in the starting-box against
Orient Express Racing Team, NYYC American Magic are fired up for an intriguing contest against Emirates Team New Zealand where they will be keen to speed-test their rapid AC75 ‘Patriot’ against the benchmark team in the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta. At the starting gun, Nathan Outteridge brings ‘Taihoro’ in from the port entry four seconds late but makes an easy cross, sailing long and deep to the right-hand side. Tom Slingsby brings ‘Patriot’ in, also marginally late, at the starboard end and immediately gives chase. Totally different swell today. ETNZ gybe round at the start box boundary and Magic gybes in front to set up to leeward on the lead back. Both boats have time to kill as they cross the line before ducking back and then starting close to the pin. Magic in the leeward position forces the Kiwis off early and it’s split tactics up the beat with New Zealand heading right as Magic tacks on the boundary.
Over at the right boundary, Emirates Team New Zealand tacks onto starboard tack but it’s the Americans who are clear ahead by a good distance and they take their advantage and sail over to the right side of the course. Brilliant sailing in the conditions from Slingsby and his co-helm Paul Goodison who look to have superb speed in these testing conditions aligned with pin-point tactics. The Kiwis have no answer up this first beat and at the top mark, the Americans nail the layline to the starboard gate whilst the Kiwis opt for a bear away at the port marker 15 seconds adrift.
Down the first run there is big separation with the Americans out left (looking downwind) and the Kiwis playing the right initially. As they cross back in the middle of the course, Magic is still clear ahead and does a good job in gybe covering to ensure maximum dirty-air filtering back down on their opponent – text book tactics so far from the Americans who are looking rapid today. Both boats end up on the left boundary, and hitting the layline to the first gate with the Americans electing to take the starboard marker whilst the Kiwis are forced to do one more gybe to take the port marker (looking downwind). It’s tight but the delta is now up to 19 seconds for the Americans and they are smart to cover the Kiwi move out right, early. Spotting this, Emirates Team New Zealand tacks back into the middle of the racecourse and the Americans take full right-side leverage by tacking onto starboard close on the boundary. The Kiwis meanwhile are keen not to get pinned and are forced to go left up the beat which doesn’t appear favoured.
At the second windward mark, NYYC American Magic exit the port marker in some building breeze with an extended lead of 35 seconds and head off initially down the right side of the course. In distance terms, Magic was out to 500 metres and sailing supremely, going boundary to boundary, minimising gybe manoeuvres and hitting the layline out to the port side to select the port leeward gate marker, exiting with one-board up at 32 knots – impressive.
With the delta now out to 50 seconds, the Kiwis roll the dice with a late gybe to take the starboard marker and head immediately right (looking up the course) to try and find something. The Americans are more than wise to their positioning and cover the move, coming back from the left boundary and hold the absolute command position now and not allowing any passing lanes or opportunities. The lead in distance terms up this final windward leg was over 550 metres at times so for the Americans it was all about simple execution of the basics and keeping a loose cover.
Outstanding sailing from the Americans with special mention to Andrew Campbell and Mike Menninger on the trim and flight control who really performed smoothly and at the final windward mark, they bore away flat at almost 40 knots with an unassailable lead of 36 seconds. The Kiwis went for a smart tack and bear-away at the starboard marker and headed to the left boundary (looking downwind) in hope of finding something but the gap was too great and the Americans sailing too well.
At the finish line, NYYC American Magic crossed to inflict the first loss of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta on Emirates Team New Zealand with a winning delta recorded at 28 seconds. A real morale booster for everyone at NYYC American Magic who secure third place overall in the regatta and will next race at the Louis Vuitton Cup starting on the August 29
NYYC American Magic beat Emirates Team New Zealand (28 seconds)
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Port Entry) vs. Alinghi Red Bull Racing
With their place secured in the final, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are very much using this race a conditions sighter before the showdown with Emirates Team New Zealand but are still fired-up for the win. Francesco Bruni brings Luna Rossa into the start box some five seconds late and immediately heads out to the right. Alinghi Red Bull racing give close chase before Luna Rossa gybes close to the boundary whilst the Swiss elect to head up high to the right. On the lead back, the Swiss come reaching in and end up on the tail of Luna Rossa doing a brilliant job in forcing the Italians over early and getting away cleanly from the middle of the line. Luna Rossa then messed up their return to the line, not going back far enough and having to return a second time to give a double advantage to the Swiss.
Outstanding sailing from Arnaud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin, helms on Alinghi Red Bull Racing, who leg out into a massive 500 metre advantage. This is now all about front-running for the young Swiss team, but their boat-handling looks slick and their tactics of a loose cover up the first beat, picking the pressure patches appears spot-on. At the first windward mark, Alinghi Red Bull Racing takes the starboard marker with a leading delta of 34 seconds and head off down to the left hand boundary (looking downwind).
For Luna Rossa this is all about catch-up and it’s calm onboard with the team just going through the processes and relying on their inherent speed to try and close down the delta. The Swiss are first to gybe and lead on a long starboard with welcome pressure building further down the racecourse. Once into it, the Swiss call for a gybe and make a huge error on the gybe exit, getting loose and high on the foils and splashing down. However, it’s not as catastrophic as first thought as the Chief Umpire calls a “keep clear border’ infraction by Luna Rossa (an imaginary boundary around the boats to keep them apart) as they bore away over the Swiss bow and are forced to drop 75 metres behind.
At the leeward gate, Alinghi Red Bull Racing takes starboard marker and round with a nine second advantage whilst Luna Rossa splits tactics and takes the port marker. This race is tight now and Luna Rossa are on the charge. A tacking duel up the middle sees the Swiss tack right on the face of Luna Rossa who have eaten up the 75-metre disadvantage, forcing the Italians away but it’s all gains for Luna Rossa as they seize back the lead in the final throes to the second windward gate. A tack bear-away (hard move) by the Italians takes them around the starboard marker with a 12 second advantage as both boats head off to the left boundary downwind.
For Luna Rossa, it’s now their turn to front-run and they make no mistake don the second run, gybe covering the Swiss and sailing hard for the pressure field further down the course. As they click into the increasing wind, a smart gybe from Luna Rossa is matched almost in sync out by Alinghi Red Bull Racing who are doing everything to keep the race tight. Electing to take the port marker at the final leeward gate which Luna Rossa are forced to gybe late for, the delta is just eight seconds as the Swiss nail a fast one-board round-up at the starboard marker and head immediately to the left up the final beat.
Luna Rossa tacks from the right to cover, coming back on starboard tack with a few boatlengths advantage and immediately put the cover on the Swiss who are forced back to the left. Sharp tactics from the Italians who clearly like the right side and retaining the starboard tack advantage. On the water, the relative distance was out to almost 200 metres and in the final quarter of the beat, Luna Rossa puts a tight, ruthless cover on, really slamming the door shut and not allowing any passing lanes.
At the final windward mark, Luna Rossa goes for the simpler bear-away at the port marker, exiting at 42.8 knots whilst Alinghi Red Bull Racing elects for a tack and bear away at the starboard marker 13 seconds adrift in an attempt to split the tactics downwind. Luna Rossa eyes this and gybe covers all the way to the finish and, with the pressure building again in the lower quarter of the run, bring the boat home, flying across the line at 38 knots to record a stunning comeback win timed at 46 seconds.
Orient Express Racing Team (Port Entry) vs. INEOS Britannia
Both team here looking to prove a point and take a point – so it’s a fascinating match-up in tricky conditions. Kevin Peponnet has the honour of bringing Orient Express into the line from the port end. But the Fench are 10 seconds late and really put the pressure onto themselves. Ben Ainslie steers Britannia in and closes the gap, immediately imposing a penalty onto the French who fail to keep clear as they try to cross. At the final approach, the French come in from the right side whilst the British come in on port and then tack on the line and are over, forcing them to re-cross – a strange one. Orient Express starts to windward and takes an immediate lead of some 100 metres.
Up the first windward leg, we start to see the potential of both boats and it’s Orient Express who slap a tight cover on Britannia as both boats head towards the right boundary. At the tack, the French have extended to some 140-150 metres but it feels very close between these two evenly matched teams. In the final quarter, the French allow the British to get to the right, preferring the left and again they gain, electing to take the starboard marker at the first windward mark, bearing away with a 16 second delta. Britannia elects to bear away around the port marker to split the downwind tactics and at the left boundary Orient Express gybe to cover off the move, knowing that INEOS Britannia is fast downwind.
The game of catch-up for the British got harder with the Race Committee shortening the legs to 1.45 nautical miles but for the French it is very much a case of sailing their own race, looking for the pressure field down the course, and hitting the right boundary. However, a poor gybe opens the door for Britannia who seize the lead as the French are forced to duck their stern. With the wind down to just 7 knots, the Race Committee shorten the windward leg again to just 1.3 nautical miles as the boats come into the final leeward gate with Britannia enjoying a leading delta of 11 seconds. Split tactics are in evidence with the British going left and the French taking their chances out to the right but as the two come back together, it’s INEOS Britannia with the cross and the advantage.
The British tack on the right boundary with a lead extending to some 50 metres and make an easy cross back but allowing the French to get right. As the British come back, this time they slap a hard cover on the French who are forced to tack off right again from the middle of the course and this is all set for the final quarter of the beat with the British clearly in the command position.
At the second windward gate, Britannia comes in on port aiming for the starboard marker, just making the cross as Orient Express bears-away at 40 knots around the port marker. The run is close with both boats forced to sail high angles in the lighter breeze and the Race Committee announces a shortening of the course which will see the boats finish at the end of the next upwind leg. INEOS Britannia put a tight gybe cover on Orient Express who are keeping it close. In the final approaches to the final leeward gate, INEOS Britannia opts for the port marker and has a near-miss with a near-splash-down with Orient Express on their tail, 18 seconds adrift.
The delta was handy and easily enough for Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher to now just put some textbook match racing tactics in play and they kept a tight cover, extending out to some 300 metres as the French challenge evaporated. By the finish, INEOS Britannia was well clear and recorded a winning delta of 48 seconds. Great race – arguably the most entertaining one of the tournament so far with plenty of positives for both teams ahead of the Louis Vuitton Cup starting next week.
INEOS Britannia beat Orient Express Racing Team (48 seconds)
LOUIS VUITTON PRELIMINARY REGATTA FINAL
Emirates Team New Zealand (Port Entry) vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
The match of the regatta. The final. The big one. Both teams come into this with a lot to prove and it’s Nathan Outteridge steering ‘Taihoro’ from the port pod who dials into the starting box just a couple of seconds late and make an easy cross of Jimmy Spithill who comes in 4 seconds late. The Kiwis head out to the right of the box and the Italians sail low and trail them out. Kiwis are first to gybe back, and the Italians ignore and continue going deep in the box, but a penalty is called on the Italians for a close encounter on the way back.
The Italians look rattled and, on the lead back, try a time-on-distance to the starboard end of the line. The Kiwis appear to like the port end of the line and hit the line bang on time before both boats tack to port and head towards the right boundary. After the Italians manage to wash off their penalty Emirates Team New Zealand immediately slap on a tight cover with an early lead of some 100 metres which extends swiftly to 200 metres as the wind-shadow effect take hold. Both teams battling to stay on the foils with deep exits out of the tacks.
At the first windward mark it’s a 22 second lead to Emirates Team New Zealand who look vastly different in performance terms to their earlier race against NYYC American Magic. Down the first run, the Kiwis keep a good gybe cover but are showing some deep VMG angles with a lead now out, in distance terms, to almost 400 metres. A neat layline call out to the left (looking downwind) brings ‘Taihoro’ into the starboard marker at the first leeward gate whilst Luna Rossa is forced to do one more gybe to get to the port marker but the delta is down to just 16 seconds. Split tactics sees the Italians head right upwind whilst the Kiwis go to the left boundary before tacking back. The conditions are super-tough with a big swell and a very patchy breeze but Emirates Team New Zealand makes the cross back and puts the cover immediately on to which the Italians respond by tacking off to the right again.
The Kiwis are sailing well with a modicum of windward cant and all the way up the second beat are keeping very close with the Italians, tacking on their wind at every opportunity. Luna Rossa are struggling to make incremental gains but in the final quarter of the leg it’s nevertheless desperately close when Emirates Team New Zealand set up to take the starboard marker with a leading delta of 19 seconds as both boats head to the left initially.
A poor gybe by the Kiwis brings the race closer with the on-water distance at just 165 metres but they slap the gybe cover on relentlessly with both boats very evenly matched. In the final quarter of the leg, Emirates Team New Zealand sets up on the starboard layline to round the port marker ahead, just, by six seconds. Luna Rossa go for an immediate JK rounding to split tactics whilst Emirates Team New Zealand sails to the right boundary. As the boats come back, it’s Emirates Team New Zealand with the starboard advantage but they elect to tack right under the bow of Luna Rossa and bounce them off to the left side. Impressive move and very much something of a signature of the Kiwis.
On the next comeback it’s still nerve-wrackingly close and the Italians get a 75 metre penalty as they ducked in from behind and broke the virtual boat boundary. A further penalty on the Italians was incurred on the very next tack with the Kiwis luffing from leeward and the Italians failing to keep clear. Nip and tuck now but it’s the Kiwis who round the final windward mark with an 11 second lead. Amazing racing.
With just over a mile to run and both boats trundling down the course at 38 knots, it’s Emirates Team New Zealand with all the aces and keeping a very close gybe cover as the lead hovers around 250 metres. Emirates Team New Zealand spot pressure out to the right of the course and head to the boundary whilst also minimising the manoeuvres. It’s a brilliant call from the Kiwis and they bring ‘Taihoro’ home to win the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta with a winning delta of 34 seconds that belies just how close this racing was. Two top teams, really performing at the very top of their games. A pleasure to watch.
