LVT: All to Play For for BMW ORACLE Racing

BMW ORACLE Racing sails upwind on the hip of Artemis. Image copyright Paul Todd/OutsideImages.co.nz

by Peter Rusch

BMW ORACLE Racing has one match remaining in Round Robin 1 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy-Nice and it's a very important race, with a big impact on the scoreboard.
For a time, it appeared it would be a banner day for the American squad. The team earned a come-from-behind win over Artemis early this morning and held a nice advantage over the Russian Synergy team in their second match. But the wind failed on the first downwind leg, and the time limit expired, forcing Race Officer Peter Reggio to abandon the match. It was disappointing, but came as no surprise to the crew.

"The wind shut down but it was expected. The breeze has been dying out around mid-day typically," said grinder Brian MacInnes (CAN).

The race will be re-sailed on Saturday morning.

This final match is of critical importance to BMW ORACLE Racing as the format for Round Robin 2 has been modified. A win puts the team in the top four, while a loss drops them into the second tier of teams. The changed format now sees the top four teams each race against every one of the bottom four teams in the shortened second round of the regatta. (This means each team has four matches instead of seven).

So finishing in the top four brings the promise of easier races in round two, after which the leading four teams advance to a Semi Final and Final, while the bottom half of the fleet sail for the minor placings.

The regatta organisers have decided to change the event format after time has been lost due to the fickle winds on the Bay of Angels.

"We'd like to be in the top four at the end of the Round Robin," MacInnes said. "It would set us up in a much stronger position the rest of the way."

Round Robin 1 Standings (Synergy and BMW ORACLE Racing have one match still to sail)

1. Emirates Team New Zealand; 6-1
2. Azzurra; 6-1
3. TeamOrigin; 5-2
4. BMW ORACLE Racing; 3-3
5. Artemis; 3-4
6. Synergy; 2-4
7. ALL4ONE; 2-5
8. TFS - Pages Jaunes; 0-7

BMW ORACLE Racing
Louis Vuitton Trophy