LVT: ETNZ Tops the Leaderboard

by Warren Douglas

Emirates Team New Zealand made it four in a row at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta on Saturday.

ETNZ the only undefeated team in the round robin is top of the leader board with four points. Azzurra is second with three points and TEAMORIGIN, ALL4ONE and Artemis each on two points.

Today’s race was sailed in a building breeze: 10 – 12 knots at the start, rising to 15 knots by the second down-wind leg.

Tactician Ray Davies describes the race:

“We had a good start. We managed to get below the pin end of the line with ALL4ONE to leeward of us, making it very hard for them to get a good start.

“We both started on port tack. ALL4ONE was quite slow and we immediately took a comfortable lead. We had control and took them right out to the exclusion zone (an area of shallow water and rocks) on the southern side of the course.

“We both tacked away. We sheeted hard in and ALL4ONE was in our wind shadow but couldn’t tack away. They were a couple of knots slower but had no alternative but to follow us into the mark.”

The margin at the first mark was 32sec. Ray Davies: “On the run we again saw the power that the trailing boat has when it brings up the pressure from behind. ALL4ONE took big chunks out of our lead.

“We took the left end of the gate, giving us the right side of the course on the beat, and covered hard to protect our advantage. Towards the top of the course the breeze became very shifty so we have to play the shifts rather than cover the opponent.

“We had enough of a lead at the mark (21sec) to feel comfortable on the run. The breeze was good and steady and they didn’t have any passing opportunities.”

The margin at the finish was 26 sec.

Friday’s other results:
TEAMORIGIN beat Aleph
Azzurra beat Artemis
Mascalzone Latino beat Synergy

Emirates Team NZ
Louis Vuitton Trophy