LVT: Emirates Team NZ Wins Sixth Race in a Row

Emirates Team New Zealand leads BMW ORACLE Racing on the first downwind leg of their match. Image copyright Bob Grieser/OutsideImages.co.nz

by Warren Douglas

Emirates Team New Zealand has won its sixth straight race in the Louis Vuitton trophy being sailed at Nice, beating BMW Oracle by 47sec.

The race was sailed in a 12-14 knot northerly breeze. ETNZ was slightly ahead as they crossed the line in split-tack start - ETNZ taking the left and BMWOracle taking the right, Barker had enough leverage to take control and was clearly ahead at the first cross, going to the right and controlling the beat from there.

With only 13 sec in it at the first mark, ETNZ had a fight on its hands on the run. With only two boat-lengths separating them, Oracle was hunting, waiting for Barker to gybe to that they could throw dirty air on ETNZ and perhaps take the lead.

To get the separation he wanted, Barker threw two dummy gybes, BMW Oracle taking the bait on the second one. The manoeuvre succeeded in dislodging Oracle from his transom, giving Barker some breathing space and making the two-boat length lead marginally more secure.


Emirates Team Nwe Zealand leads BMW ORACLE Racing to the windward mark. Image copyright Bob Grieser/OutsideImages.co.nz

At the second mark, ETNZ took the left mark, rounding 15 sec ahead, still in the lead but far from safe as BMW Oracle took the right-hand mark.

The second beat was kind to ETNZ, picking up a good shift which propelled them to a 47 sec margin at the third mark setting them up for a safe run to the finish. The final margin was 48sec

Today, thursday, previously unbeaten TEAMORIGIN (GBR) had its first loss, falling to the Swedish team Artemis.

Emirates Team New Zealand
Louis Vuitton Trophy