BMW ORACLE Racing with Russell Coutts at the helm. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
by Jane Eagleson
BMW ORACLE Racing and Alinghi put on a classic match race in a close and enthralling battle all the way around the track in one of the most anticipated clashes of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland today.
Alinghi gained a small advantage at the start as the Swiss team led away from the line at the Committee Boat end of the line. The racing was always tight, but on these short course tracks with tide running in and out of the Waitemata Harbour overtaking opportunities are few and far between.
"We were a little late for the line at the start," said BMW ORACLE Racing tactician Hamish Pepper. "Once that happens, you are always battling to come from behind, but we never let them get away. The team did a good job of keeping it close all the way."
After a spirited tacking duel up the first windward leg, BMW ORACLE Racing closed the game right up and managed to gain an overlap on Alinghi. As Alinghi came across on starboard tack, the Swiss team tacked over to port close to windward of BMW ORACLE Racing. Russell Coutts and the BMW ORACLE Racing crew pushed up nearly head to wind in an aggressive luff, but the umpires ruled that Alinghi had kept clear and no penalty was awarded.
"We thought that was pretty close," said Pepper. "We thought the call would go our way, but obviously the umpires saw it differently."
Round the first windward mark, Alinghi led by 13 seconds and the margin was 8 seconds at the leeward rounding as the yachts split through opposite ends of the leeward gate. Up the second windward leg, the battle was on again as the yachts exchanged tacks, working out towards the port layline. At the second windward mark rounding, the gap had closed up again and the delta was just 10 seconds.
Down the final run for the finish, BMW ORACLE Racing continued to pile pressure on, hunting for opportunities to attack the breeze of the Alinghi crew. At one point, the game closed up so that BMW ORACLE Racing's bow was just metres behind Alinghi's transom. But the Swiss team defended their lead and, as BMW ORACLE Racing split gybes in a last-ditch attempt to gain a passing opportunity, the America's Cup holders took the victory gun by 27 seconds.
Alinghi leads BMW ORACLE Racing downwind. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
"Alinghi did a good job protecting their lead," said Pepper. "We made a mistake in gybing away and they stayed in good pressure down the last stages of the final downwind leg. We are a little bit disappointed, but we are definitely not down and out."
Although there is still a day's racing left in the second Round Robin, this puts Alinghi at the top of the Gold Fleet leaderboard for Round Robin two and means the Swiss team will advance straight to the Challenger Final. BMW ORACLE Racing will advance directly to the quarter finals and race through a further elimination series to establish the second finalist to meet Alinghi in a sail-off to decide which team will meet Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series final.
"We have to keep racing, but that is OK," said Pepper. "The more racing we do, the more we improve. We learned a lot today. We hope to have the opportunity to meet Alinghi in the Challenger Final and get our revenge."
Other Gold Fleet results:
Damiani Italia Challenge beat Luna Rossa Challenge
Team Origin beat Emirates Team New Zealand
The Silver Fleet completed their second Round Robin yesterday.
BMW ORACLE Racing
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