Rod and Magnus stare at each other during an aggressive pre-start. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
by Anne Hinton
The Steinlager Line 7 Cup on the Waitemata in Auckland in 2002 was loaded with top America's Cup match racers in both the qualifier series and the actual event. However, it was also notable for the fact that many of the teams had their minds on other things, in the lead-up to the Louis Vuitton Cup later in the year.
One match stood out from all the others at the event for determined aggressiveness. This was the first quarterfinal race between Rod Davis and Magnus Holmberg.
Rod Davis had taken the match to his opponent from the start. Magnus Holmberg had a penalty outstanding as both boats approached the finishing line. Magnus led Rod out to the left of the committee boat, but could not pin him there, outside the line.
(1) Magnus reaches the committee boat end of the line, overlapped with Rod. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
While Magnus was taking his penalty turn, Rod dived in between him and the committee boat towards the finish line.
(2) Rod then attempts to pass between the committee boat and Magnus, while Magnus starts to take his penalty turn. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
(3) Rod asks for more room to pass between the committee boat and Magnus than Magnus is giving him - with Magnus needing to keep clear of Rod as Magnus takes his penalty. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
However, Rod made contact with the committee boat whilst trying to pass between Magnus, who was taking his penalty, and the committee boat.
(4) Rod comes into contact with the committee boat. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
Rod then luffed and Magnus did not keep clear.
(5) Rod then luffs and Magnus does not keep sufficiently well clear. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
(6) The umpires (Nev Wittey driving) assess the situation. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
Both boats were awarded penalties by the umpires.
(7) The umpires penalise both boats. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
Rod crossed the finishing line first to win the race.
(8) Rod crosses the finishing line to win the race as Magnus completes his penalty turn. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com
At the press conference after the race, Chief Umpire John Doerr commented that in any other sport play stops when the whistle blows. However, the action keeps going in match racing, and the umpires did a good job under very difficult circumstances.
Rod Davis went on to take the second quarterfinal race, to win through to the semis, 2-0.
Sadly on the last day the wind did not oblige, so a count-back determined that the event winner was Peter Holmberg, with Jes Gram Hansen second and Paolo Cian third.
All images above are scanned.
2 comments:
Comment received from Rod Davis: "Wild times in the old days!"
In match racing you only begin to take a penalty when - on the run - you pass head to wind. Based on the photo's Magnus is windward boat and has to keep clear under RRS 11. Rod has a restriction as r.o.w. boat not to sail above his proper course under RRS 17.1
Since finishing is Rod's proper course he can luff to pass above the committee boat.
I'm not sure about photo 5. If Rod already has crossed and cleared the line his luff might be interfering with a boat still racing. If rod has not crossed the finishing line he is definitely sailing above his proper course.
My guess would be that Rod is not so much penalized for touching the committee boat - he was forced to break that rule when Magnus did not keep clear and did not give him enough room to pass it - but for one of the reason above.
Either RRS 22.1 or 17.1
Magnus in all likelihood was penalized for not keeping clear when approaching the line.
This is all very speculative. The only ones who can really answer these questions are the umpires at the spot.
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