Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 16. Final: Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) vs Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), © Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.
by SailRaceWin
Team New Zealand has always been good at coming from lower down the rankings to win when it counts (think back to their first winning the Louis Vuitton Trophy in San Diego), and Emirates Team New Zealand continued that tradition at La Maddalena, Sardinia, today, to win the latest edition of the Louis Vuitton Trophy, after being 2-0 down in the finals.
Synergy put up a very big fight. Ray Davies commented that ETNZ weren't sure of victory until Synergy's kite blew out on the last downwind leg of the last race. Until that point, the finals saw match racing at its best in the afternoon sunshine, warmth and sea breeze off Sardinia. (See SailRaceWin's Twitter commentary on the last two races.)
Audio of Ray Davies, ETNZ tactician, after the final race of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena, interviewed by Martin Tasker and Peter Lester, courtesy of SailTV and the Louis Vuitton Trophy
Audio of Dean Barker, ETNZ skipper, after the final race of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena, interviewed by Martin Tasker and Peter Lester, courtesy of SailTV and the Louis Vuitton Trophy
The Russian team Synergy has well and truly arrived on the world scene, after placing third in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice, France, last November, and being in the thick of things at the Portugal Trophy of the Audi MedCup. We look forward to much more top rate match racing from Karol Jablonski's team at the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai in November.
Audio of Karol Jablonski, Synergy Russian Sailing Team's Polish skipper, after the final race of the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena, interviewed by Martin Tasker and Peter Lester, courtesy of SailTV and the Louis Vuitton Trophy
ALL4ONE (France/Germany) (Sweden) and Artemis have also come well up the rankings and established their potential. It was a shame that conditions did not permit either a petit final or 5th-8th placings sail-offs to be held in La Maddalena. No doubt the up-coming Marseille Trophy of the Audi MedCup will provide ALL4ONE (2nd in the Portugal Trophy) and Artemis (3rd in the Portugal trophy) a chance to demonstrate their class once again.
Louis Vuitton Trophy
