LVT: Broken Gear Leads to Loss for Emirates Team New Zealand

by Warren Douglas

A horizontal split near the top of the jib and a failed lock at the top of the mast cost Emirates Team New Zealand any chance of winning its race against All4One at La Maddalena today.

The split started as they crossed the start line in the match against the French-German All4One.

Skipper Dean Barker said: “We got the start we wanted to the right of All4One but as we came off the line the jib failed compromising our speed build. We had to tack away from a strong position and started losing distance.

All4One took advantage of the opportunity presented to them and as Emirates Team New Zealand nursed the failing jib, All4One started to build a lead.

On board Emirates Team New Zealand the job was to keep the sail together as much as possible and minimise the losses while preparing for an attacking opportunity on the downwind leg.

The opportunity didn’t come on the run as crew worked to ready another jib for the second beat At the hoist, the team got the second shock of the race: one of the locks at the top of the rig failed and they could not set the sail properly.

Dean Barker: “Again our up-wind speed was compromised. We had to keep the game as close as we could and try to bustle ALL4One into error. But they sailed well and did exactly what we would have done had the situation been reversed.

“When you’re racing borrowed boats and supplied equipment you make the best of what you’re given. We’re not alone in that.”
The final delta was 21s.

Saturday’s results:
TeamOrigin b Luna Rossa by 37s
Azzurra b Synergy by 18s
Artemis b Azzurra by 15s
Synergy beat Artemis (DNF)
All4One beat Emirates Team New Zealand by 21s

Leaderboard after Day 8
Synergy won 5 – lost 4. 5 points
Artemis 3-2, 5 points
Emirates Team New Zealand 4-2, 4 points
TeamOrigin 4-3, 4 points
All4One 4-3, 4 points
Mascalzone Latino 4-1. 3 points
Azzurra 3-4, 2points
Luna Rossa 2-6. 2 points
BMW Oracle 1-5, 1 point
Aleph 2-4, -2 points
Mascalzone Latino have been penalised by the jury.

Tomorrow:
Emirates Team New Zealand is matched against BMW Oracle and Artemis. First two races of the day.

Emirates Team New Zealand
Louis Vuitton Trophy