LVPS: They're Racing on the Waitemata

Greek Challenge (Gavin Brady) clips Alinghi (Ed Baird) in the pre-start. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image. All Rights Reserved.

by Louis Vuitton Pacific Series media

Race 1: Pataugas K-Challenge beat China Team - 1:02

The French team Pataugas K-Challenge won the opening match of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, defeating China Team in a shofty 10-12 knot southwesterly breeze. Under grey skies, K-Challenge made a strong start on prt at the pin end of the line. China Team made a late start on starboard at the committee boat end but skipper Ian Williams made big gains up the first weather leg and gained steadily to close up at the mark.


On-board Pataugas by K-Challenge. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image. All Rights Reserved.

The lead was down to 40m as they rounded but something went wrong and the spinnaker pole broke. Despite the broken pole, Williams led as they came into the first leeward mark. The french made a better rounding while China Team incurred a penalty in an overlap situation. The chinese did well to finish just over one minute astern after taking their penalty.

Race 2: TEAMORIGIN beat Luna Rossa - 1:11

It was billed as the clash of the day, but the new crew of the British TEAMORIGIN syndicate was in total control from the start of its encounter with Italians Luna Rossa. With two Olympic gold medallists in the afterguard - Ben Ainslie at the helm, and Iain Percy calling tactics - TEAMORIGIN won the start and after a spirited tacking duel up the middle of the course, established a 22s lead around the first mark.

That lead was almost doubled on the run downwind, and with Luna Rossa desperate to bridge the gap, helmsman Pete Holmberg headed to the left side of the course looking for a lift. The Italian team managed to close to within 20m of the Brits, but Ainslie tacked smartly to claim the favoured port layline track to the top mark and TEAMORIGIN pulled away once more on the run to the finish. The first-up victory confirmed that the British crew will be a strong contender for this inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacific series.

Race 3: Emirates Team New Zealand beat Damiani Italia Challenge - 0:19

Sailing on home waters, Emirates Team New Zealand's skipper/helmsman Dean Barker led from start to finish in a good race against Damiani Italia Challenge. Francesco Bruni on the helm of the Italian boat started in Synch with the Kiwis with a safe leeward berth, only to see the home team boat inch slowly awat. It wasn't long before Bruni tacked onto port and took the stern of the New Zealand boat.

Bruni kept it close and was 22 seconds behind as they finished the first spinnaker run and he sailed a smarter second beat than Barker, closing the favoured left side and gaining in a left shift. Despite the Italian gains, Emirates Team New Zealand finished 150m ahead.

Race 4: Alinghi beat Greek Challenge - 2:02


Greek Challenge on the race track against Alinghi. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image. All Rights Reserved.

The Greek Challenge made their mark, literally, in their maiden race at the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series against top seed Alinghi. Gavin Brady, the Kiwi skipper of the Greek boat, had no hesitation in testing his mettle against Ed Baird, Alinghi's skipper, and paid a heavy penalty. Jousting in the start box, the bow of the Greek boat hit the stern of Alinghi, damaging both boats in the clash and casting the feisty Brady one penalty point for "hard contact" even before he had crossed the start line.


Greek Challenge training. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image. All Rights Reserved.

Unperturbed, Brady urged his Greek-Kiwi crew to carry on. They nicely manoeuvred themselves across the start ahead of Alinghi, claiming the coveted right side of the course. It was a good recovery by Brady and his brand new crew - many of whom have never sailed at this level before - and they led the Swiss team out towards the port layline. But as they tacked towards the top mark, Alinghi cast dirty air onto the Greeks and nudged ahead to lead by 16s around the mark. Their distinct experience advantage then kicked in, and Alinghi were never challenged again, finishing almost a kilometre ahead. The race umpires awarded the requisite one point to Alinghi for their victory and docked the Greek Challenge one point, leaving them in negative territory.



Louis Vuitton Pacific Series