LVT: Emirates Team New Zealand in Second Place

by Warren Douglas

Emirates Team New Zealand is second on the points table as the round robin of the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta at La Maddalena draws to a close.

With one round robin match to sail, Emirates Team New Zealand has five points (five wins and three losses). Tomorrow Dean Barker sails the final round robin match against Mascalzone Latino.

Barker and crew finally got their long-anticipated start against Artemis – a match delayed from the first day of the regatta - in the early evening as a cold, strong wind blew across the course.

It was the end of a long day in which the race committee worked hard to get the scheduled six matches away.

In mid-afternoon, after the breeze got up to more than 20 knots, race crews were sent ashore to wait until it moderated. The race committee stayed out on the water.
It was well after 6pm by the time the Emirates Team New Zealand - Artemis race started.

It was not a good day for the team. The start was even, but Artemis got some good leverage in the left and led into the mark. The action was close and tactician Ray Davies called for a penalty on Artemis. The umpires did not allow it. Artemis led down towards the second mark with Emirates Team New Zealand in close pursuit. But there were no passing lanes and Artemis won the match by 17s.

Artemis is leading the round robin on points with Emirates Team New Zealand second. Synergy is also sitting on five wins but has raced all its nine round robin matches.

Today’s results
BMW Oracle b Mascalzone Latino by 26s
Mascalzone Latino b Aleph by 1s
Luna Rossa b Aleph 1m45s
BMW Oracle b Azzurra by 15s
Azzurra b TeamOrigin by 1.03
Artemis b Emirates Team New Zealand by 17s

Points after Day 11
Artemis 6 wins 2 losses
Emirates Team New Zealand 5-3
Synergy 5-4
Mascalzone Latino 5-2 (4 points, 1 point penalty for hard contact)
All4One 4-3
Azzurra 4-4
TeamOrigin 4-4
Luna Rossa 3-6
BMW Oracle 3-6
Aleph 2-6 (minus two points – penalised for collision)

Tomorrow’s racing
Mascalzone Latino v TeamOrigin
All4One v Aleph
Emirates Team New Zealand v Mascalzone Latino
Artemis v All4One

Emirates Team New Zealand
Louis Vuitton Trophy