America's Cup : Emirates Team New Zealand win Naples Coastal Race

by Emirates Team New Zealand media

Emirates Team New Zealand started the 2013 Naples ACWS program in dominant fashion by winning the 21-mile coastal race along the picturesque Naples coast line.

Although today’s race and its results have no points or bearing on the standings of the regatta which starts  on Thursday, it was a strong and satisfying way to start the week.

The race began in a light six knots of breeze and by the first mark Emirates Team New Zealand had worked their way into rounding in 4th position.

By the third mark the team, led by skipper Dean Barker, had moved up into first place where they remained throughout the race in what he described as “very stressful conditions”. For a large part of the race the wind was barely above 2 knots of breeze as the fleet drifted around the top end of the course.

By the time Emirates Team New Zealand led around the final mark to head back along the coast the breeze began to build again and as tactician and navigator for the day Ray Davies said, “the rich got richer”  and they sailed the later part of the course with a significant lead under no real pressure crossing the finish line approximately three minutes ahead of Luna Rossa Piranha.

“Today was a really enjoyable race, it was a massively stressful one but a great way to start the week, hopefully we can continue the rest of the regatta as started.” Dean Barker said.

Emirates Team New Zealand
America's Cup