Azzurra leads BMW ORACLE Racing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy off Nice. Image copyright Bob Grieser/OutsideImages.co.nz
by Jill Campbell
Azzurra has taken victory in her first regatta in the Louis Vuitton Trophy, held this morning against BMW Oracle Racing.
After a first start at 10 am which was then abandoned the first match race of the day (the fifth completed so far in the series) saw Azzurra just steal the start from BMW Oracle, with Gavin Brady at the helm and Hamish Pepper on tactics, after tactician Tommaso Chieffi chose to follow the wind shift to the right side of the course.
Azzurra led around the first windward and leeward marks and went on to cross the finish line well ahead of the American team: 2 minutes and 56 seconds ahead to be precise.
“ It’s an important point for us, we have been waiting to race for 3 days! We had a fairly good start, the first upwind leg was difficult but we made the right tactical choices.” said helmsman Francesco Bruni on his return to port.
Francesco Bruni. Image copyright Steffano Gattini/Azzurra.
Light winds meant that only two match races were held today with Emirates Team New Zealand just pipping the Russians of Synergy to the post in the final stages of the second race.
Tomorrow’s schedule sees Azzurra competing in the fourth race of the day (second flight) against Artemis, the Swedish team skippered by Paul Cayard with Terry Hutchinson at the helm.
At the minute tomorrow’s forecast predicts more light winds from the north, racing is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.
Azzurra
Louis Vuitton Trophy
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