LVPS: Wind Takes Charge as ETNZ Beats China Team

Dean Barker at the helm of Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.

by Warren Douglas

A light and changeable breeze dominated the fourth day of racing in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

A 10-knot southerly breeze eased as the morning progressed and the yachtsmen had to wait until the breeze swung in the north-east and slowly built.

Racing, scheduled to start at 11am with a clash between Emirates Team New Zealand and China Team, did not get underway until 2.45pm. Today’s second race – Luna Rossa v Greek Challenge – started 10 minutes later.

The race committee was trying to start the four races scheduled for today as well as the Shosholoza-Luna Rossa match that was blown off the course yesterday.

Emirates Team New Zealand won its clash with China by 54 seconds. The team’s third win in three races.

China Team was over the line at the start and had to return, essentially handing the match to Emirates Team New Zealand.

It would have taken a major error by Dean Barker and his crew to let China back into the race. Maintaining a loose cover, ETNZ was 40sec ahead after the first beat, had a 55sec lead at the leeward gate and 54sec after the second beat. At the finish the margin was 54sec.

Today’s results:
Emirates Team New Zealand beat China Team by 54sec
Luna Rossa beat Greek Challenge by 54sec
BMW Oracle beat Pataugas K-Challenge by 54sec
Team Origin beat Shosholoza by 48sec

Byes:Damiani Italia Challenge and Alinghi

Tomorrow’s draw:
Damiani Italia Challenge v BMW Oracle Racing
Alinghi v Shosholoza
Pataugas K-Challenge v Emirates Team New Zealand
Team Origin v Greek Challenge

Byes: China Team; Luna Rossa.

Emirates Team New Zealand