Delta Lloyd Regatta: Finn European Champion Gaspic takes only race of the day

Finn fleet on day 2 of the Delta Lloyd Regatta. Image © Sander van der Borch.

by Robert Deaves

After a long wait all day for the other classes to finish and then for the wind to make a reappearance, the Finn fleet at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik got in one early evening, testing race with 6-8 knots of wind and large shifts.

Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO), the European Champion, took the race win from class newcomer Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) and Gasper Vincec (SLO).

Gaspic said, "It was not easy but fun. Before the start it was very light and puffy. We didn't want to start but then within 3 minutes of starting the wind started to fill in. The wind had shifted totally right so I figured that we had to go left. That's why I went left and it paid off. I just had to play the shifts and the pressure."


Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic. Image © Sander van der Borch.

Rafal Szukiel (POL) finished 21st. He said, "I started on the right hand side with Rafa and Zach. We were right but centred in the middle. With these shifts I didn't want to be stuck on one side. But the wind started to shift left and kept going. Bambi was the most on the left and took the lead quickly. By the top mark the wind had turned 60 degrees and then 90. We ended up beating to the bottom mark."

The top two from yesterday, Rafa Trujillo (ESP) and Zach Railey (USA) didn't fare any better finishing one place either side of the Pole. Railey said, "There were huge shifts and major pressure differences in the race today and it did not go my way."

Young and old

Sailing his first major regatta of the year is the young Jorge Zarif (BRA), who last year won the Silver Cup (Junior World Championship) on Lake Bataton. He placed 13th in the race and said, " I prefer these conditions than yesterday. It reminds me of Balaton. Light and shifty."

One slightly older face at Medemblik this year is the 1996 Finn Bronze medalist Roy Heiner (NED). After jumping back into a Finn at the 2009 Dutch Open, he won the event and is now back for more. `Once a Finn sailor, always a Finn sailor!`


Roy Heiner. Image © Sander van der Borch.

He said, "I hadn't touched a Finn since the last race in Savannah that gave me the Bronze medal. I was not sure what to expect but it all came back to me, in fact it was still in me. The mechanism, the sensations, the feel for the boat... actually Finn sailing is far more enjoyable nowadays: no weight jacket, softer hull, the boat is more lively, easier to sail and so much fun. I enjoyed so much sailing the Finn at the Dutch Open that I couldn't resist coming and racing here. Of course the level is much higher and I have no idea if I will be competitive. I am not a fast sailor, I am tactical, I love racing but I need much more training. The downwind techniques have evolved and I am slow especially when it is light."

Reflecting on his comeback to Olympic sailing, he said, "Hard to say now. I have to see how I sail against the new generation. Surely the Finn remains an amazing boat to sail. It is easy and fun." Heiner currently sits in 39th place in a fleet of 61.

The Delta Lloyd Regatta continues to Sunday 30th May when the medal races will be held.

Results after three races

1 CRO524 Ivan, Kljakovic Gaspic 10
2 GBR Edward, Wright 15
3 SLO5 Gasper, Vincec 22
4 ESP100 Rafael, Trujillo 23
5 CRO25 Marin, Misura 23
6 USA4 Zach, Railey 28
7 GBR41 Giles, Scott 31
8 SLO573 Vasilij, Zbogar 32
9 GER771 Jan, Kurfeld 37
10 FIN218 Tapio, Nirkko 37

Finn Class
Delta Lloyd Regatta

Delta Lloyd Regatta: Light winds cause interuptions to racing for the New Zealand Team

Men's RS:X fleet start. Image copyright Thom Touw.

Racing at 2010 Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, the Netherlands ran through until late evening after interruptions during the day when the light breeze collapsed

by Jodie Bakewell-White

“Today the shifting wind conditions didn't make life easy for the sailors. We're hoping for better sailing conditions tomorrow,” reports Corimnne McKenzie.

In the Men’s RS:X fleet just one race was possible. Jon-Paul Tobin, sailing for New Zealand, recorded a ninth and sits in eighth place overall at the end of day two. He is the best placed of the four New Zealand entries competing.

First on the schedule for day two of the five day series the 49er fleet managed two races in the challenging conditions. Kiwis Peter Burling and Blair Tuke started with a solid seventh, and then placed 17th in the second race of the day.

They now drop their worst race score and shuffle two places up the leader board to hold 14th place in the standings.

Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Samantha Osborne sailed three races today to complete the Group C round robin in the Women’s Match Racing event. They took a win from the Croatian team helmed by Tadinac, but lost to Team GBR’s Rook and to Echegoyen of Spain. The kiwis finished in sixth position in their group.

In the Women’s RS:X Natalia Kosinska is lying 27th in the fleet of 60.

Racing resumes tomorrow. Sailors and organisers are hoping for more consistent breeze for day three of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta.

New Zealand’s Current Standings after day two
For full results see the regatta website

49er (Total fleet 72)
14th Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 41 points (5, 27, 5, 7, 7, 17)

Women’s Match Racing (Total fleet 24)
Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Sam Osborne – Group C Round Robin 2 wins/5 losses

Men’s RS:X (Total fleet 100)
8th Jon-Paul Tobin – 27 points (7, 5, 6, 9)

Women’s RS:X (Total fleet 60)
27th Natalia Kosinska - 108 points (27, 22, 34, 25)

Yachting New Zealand
Delta Lloyd Regatta

Delta Lloyd Regatta: Light wind delays second racing day Delta Lloyd Regatta 2010

Eivin Melleby and Petter Morland Pedersen (NOR) lead the Star fleet. Image copyright Thom Touw.

by Corinne McKenzie

It was a very long day in Medemblik, during the second day of the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2010. As expected the wind remained light during the morning before dying totally. While the Star class was the only one to finish the two programmed races, the Laser radial and the 470 men could only complete two races. The other fleets waited on the water attempting to start before being sent back to shore.

The faith and patience of the racing committee paid its dividend, the wind finally reappeared from the North West allowing for racing to resume for the other classes expect for the 2.4.

The different conditions saw a change of leader in half of the classes, while the others have increased their lead.

Star

Eivin Melleby and Petter Morland Pedersen have increased their lead on the Star fleet after winning a race and placing second. Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki (POL) are now on equal points with last race winner Mate Arapov and Ante Sitic from Croatia.

Laser

Only one race was sailed in the Laser who will continue their qualifications round tomorrow. Mattias del Solar (CHI) takes the lead after placing third. Javier Hernandez takes second overall after adding 20 points to his score. Tom Slingsby loses a place to third.

The day's only race goes to Roelof Bouwmeester (Marit's brother) who climbs to 6th overall.

Laser Radial

Marit Bouwmeester added a third victory to her score in the day's first race increasing her overall lead over Veronika Fenclova (CZE) and last race winner, Evi van Acker (BEL). Tina Mihelic (CRO), discards her earlier disqualification at the start and climb to fourth overall. 'I have had problems with my starts. I broke the start twice in Hyčres and once again yesterday! But today I was careful and it went well." With top 4 results, the young Croat is in good form and could soon challenge the top three. 'I am fast downwind, I always pass a few boats." When asked about her objectives on this regatta, the Trofeo Sofia Mapfre winner explains: 'I am testing new equipment and my speed before the European championship."

470 Men

The dying wind created many upset among the 470's Blue group; only 12 boats could finish the fifth race within the time limit, leaving 29 teams with a DNF. With the regrouping tonight into Gold and Silver finals, this last race will have a strong impact on the regatta.

Nic Asher and Elliott Willis (GBR) are keeping the lead over Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela (ISR) and French Pierre Leboucher / Vincent Garos.

470 Women

Hannah Mills and Claire Cumming are the new leader of the 470 women fleet. 'I think it was a day to be punchy at the corners rather than conservative in the middle as the wind seemed to fill back in towards the edges of the course - and also, when you had a lane and saw pressure ahead just to stick with it. I think that's what worked well for us today." explained Mills. The best results today go to Danish duo of Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer who take second overall after a 4th and a first.

Finn

One race was raced in the Finn in light and shifty wind. European Champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) won the race and takes the lead from Rafael Trujillo who finished in 20th place and drops to fourth. Second place overall is Miami OCR and Trofeo Sofia Mapfre winner, Ed Wright (ESP). 'The wind had gone right before the start" explains Gaspic. 'For me it was obvious it had to go back to the left so I took this option. I took the shift had got to the top mark in first. The wind kept turning and we had to beat to the second mark." It was a hard race because we had to play the shifts and the puffs but it was great fun!"

49er

Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch take the lead in the 49ers with a safety 11 points margin over Dylan Fletcher and Alan Sign (GBR) on equal points with Manu Dyen/Stéphane Christidis (FRA) and the Riegel brothers from Germany. The 49ers will start to race in Gold and Silver fleets on Friday.

RS:X

Blanca Manchon is keeping the lead in the strong RS:X women fleet. Australian Jessica Crisp is winning the day's race. Piotr Myszka (POL) and Maksym Oberemko (UKR) won the Men's races. Nimrod Mashiah keeps a narrow lead over Alexandre Guyader and Nick Dempsey.

Women Match racing

It took all day to conclude the Match racing Opening series. Ekaterina Skudina and her team have been steadily improving since the start of the year. They have won all their matches in the Delta Lloyd regatta opening series and qualify into the Gold Round robin with Sofia Bekatorou from Greece with in the other groups, Anna Kjellberg (SWE), Lucy MacGregor (GBR), Anne-Claire Leberre (FRA) and Renee Goeneveld (NED). The teams qualified for the Repechage are: Ru Wang from China, Julie Bossard (FRA), Katie Spithill (AUS), Nicky Souter (AUS), Mary Rook (GBR) and Tamara Echegoyen (ESP).

The Match racing has started on Friday morning at 9:30 am.

The wind is about 7 knots in the morning and is expected to increase up to 17 knots in the afternoon.

Delta Lloyd Regatta

Rolex Capri Sailing Week: Magnifica Capri!

JETHOU and ALEGRE. Image copyright ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi.

by Emanuela di Mundo

Faraglioni is considered to be one of the most natural wonders in all of Italy. Today, the competitors taking part in Rolex Capri Sailing Week were treated to a close encounter with the rock formations that are famous throughout the world. Nicknamed, Stella, Mezzo and Scopolo, the three magnificent limestone stacks mark the location of the first Roman port for Capri. The Capresi consider that passing through the archway under Mezzo brings good luck and many married couples venture there after they have taken their vows.

On day two of Rolex Capri Sailing Week the race committee set a course of about 30 miles for the Mini Maxi fleet. The big boat class was powering through the start line bound at top speed towards Faraglioni, on their way to Ischia. Hiking hard to windward, the crew were coaxing every ounce of speed, to make it to the top mark.

Brian Benjamin’s Maxi Dolphin Aegir got off to a flying start, but the powerful sleek silver hull of Andres Soriano’s Alegre soon took up the running. Alegre was first to round the mark off Faraglioni. Accelerating downwind, the spray was exploding over the bow as they hoisted their gossamer white spinnaker but the race was far from won, as Andres Soriano explains.


Faraglioni, welcomes the competitors. Image copyright ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi.

“That was a tough race today, on the first beat we saw gusts of up to 18 knots and on the first run Jethou could get up on the plane sooner than us, so they were a real handful. Later on we had four big transitions in the wind, and as we were out in front, Alegre was a great indicator of things to come for the competition. We had to keep our heads out of the boat to make the right calls, especially on sail changes. Towards the end, the wind really started to fade and there were windless traps all over the racecourse. We hoisted our bowman, Mark Bartlett, up the mast as a wind seeker and Jethou was closing on us bringing more breeze, but we managed to hold on.”

In the Mylius Class, sailing a 18 nm coastal race, there was a fascinating battle between two of the all carbon fibre development class boats: Luciano Gandini’s Twin Soul 5 and Vincenzo Addessi’s Fra Diavolo were locked in a duel along the coast of Capri. No quarter was given by either as they competed for first place. Approaching Faraglioni, Fra Diavolo was behind but by less than a boat length. As the wind moderated and changed direction approaching the top mark, Fra Diavolo hoisted their Code Zero, in an attempt to pass.

Fra Diavoli’s tactician, Paulo Scutellaro, formerly team manager for the Mascalzone America’s Cup team, explains: “We made a mistake with our Code Zero which allowed Twin Soul 5 to pass us. Racing in the Mylius is very close, the boats are nearly identical which means that we have a good battle on the water. The owner and driver Vincenzo Addessi is a real fighter and we are very happy to be winning for the moment but there is still a lot of racing to be done.”

Vincenzo Addessi is a passionate Neapolitan and named his boat after Michele Pezza, a famous guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples during the late 18th century. Pezza was an inspirational leader and Addessi is much the same. He is the Commodore of the Gaeta Yacht Club in Naples, which is twinned with the Yacht Club Capri.


FRAL 2, Alessandro Nespega and the Faraglionis in the background. Image copyright ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi.

In the Comet Class – racing the same course as the Mylius - Alessandro Nespega’s Fral 2 continued their consistent form and after five races lead the class by five points from Marco Franco’s Libertine. The I.Nova Sailing Team from Milan with their boat I.Nova had an excellent day, scoring two podium finishes, to claim third place overnight.

Both, the Comet and the Mylius class sailed an additional windward-leeward race.
The X-41 Class have completed six races – all windward-leeward - and two of the one design boats are on equal points. Pasquale Orofino’s Raffica and Gianclaudio Bassetti’s WB Five. Giovanni Arturo di Lorenzo’s Malafemmena is in third place overall.

Filippo Petrucci, meteorologist for the Italian Air Force, predicts lighter wind for tomorrow, possibly with some additional breeze in the Strait between Capri and the mainland. After two days of excellent sailing conditions and a variety of courses, all classes are expected to be racing tactical windward leeward races tomorrow.

Provisional Standings at end of Day 2
Place, Boat Name, Owner, Nation, R's-Points

Mini Maxi
1. ALEGRE Andres Soriano GBR, 1-1-1-1-4.00
2. JETHOU Sir Peter Ogden GBR, 3-2-2-2-9.00
3. AEGIR Brian Benjamin GBR, 2-3-3-5(DNF)-13.00

COMET
1. FRAL 2 Alessandro Nespega ITA, 1-2-1-1-2-7.00
2. LIBERTINE Marco Franco ITA, 2-4-2-3-1-12.00
3. I.NOVA I.Nova Sailing Team ITA, 4-1-6-2-3-16.00

X-41
1. RAFFICA Pasquale Orofino ITA, 3-1-1-2-4-1-12.00
2. WB FIVE Gianclaudio Bassetti ITA, 1-2-3-3-1-2-12.00
3. MALAFEMMENA Giovanni Arturo di Lorenzo ITA, 2-3-2-4-2-7-20.00

Mylius
1. FRA DIAVOLO Vincenzo Addessi ITA, 1-2-1-2-2-8.00
2. PITHECUSA Vincenzo De Blasio ITA, 3-1-3-3-3-13.00
3. TWIN SOUL 5, Luciano Gandini ITA, 4-3-2-1-4-14.00

Rolex Capri Sailing Week

LVT: Azzurra Concedes Point to Emirates Team New Zealand

Azzurra vs. Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.

by Jill Campbell

Azzurra, the Italian team representing the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda at the Louis Vuitton Trophy, competed in their fifth race today against Emirates Team New Zealand. The Italian crew, helmed by Francesco Bruni with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics, took an early lead but at the finish line trailed the New Zealand team by 13 seconds. With five races disputed out of the nine scheduled in this first round robin phase, Azzurra sits on two points.

Today’s match was an eagerly awaited one given both teams’ previous form: Azzurra defeated the kiwis 2-0 in the finals of the first Louis Vuitton Trophy event in Nice while Emirates Team New Zealand took overall victory in the event held in Auckland in March. Azzurra started well in 12-14 knots of wind to gain the pin end and lead Emirates, helmed by Dean Barker, by as much as 70 metres in the first windward beat.

On the approach to the mark Azzurra misjudged the distance between the boats and tacked short of the mark allowing New Zealand to take steal into the lead and round 13 seconds ahead of the Italians. Barker stretched ahead in the following two legs and won comfortably despite a very fast final downwind leg by Azzurra which allowed them to recuperate significantly.


Azzurra vs. Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.

Tactician Tommaso Chieffi explained what went wrong today: “ At the start both teams fought hard for the pin and we managed to get it. Francesco Bruni helmed well, Barker tried to defend but in the end had to give in. For two thirds of the upwind leg we didn’t cross, we waited and approximately one minute from the lay line the shift to port arrived and we were able to cross. The race seemed pretty much in the bag, but then I made a mistake: I thought there was enough space to tack twice but there wasn’t. “

Riccardo Bonadeo, President of Team Azzurra and Commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, watched today’s race from one of the YCCS support ribs: “Azzurra sailed a great race against what is undoubtedly one of the best teams in the world. The New Zealand team showed that they are experts in this complex discipline. Azzurra’s crew pulled off a splendid start and fought well on the first upwind leg but then Barker was able to slip in at the first mark rounding: a great display of strength, power and ability from Grant Dalton’s team.”

In the other races of the day Emirates Team New Zealand defeated Aleph, Team Origin defeated Synergy Russian Sailing Team and Artemis - skippered by Paul Cayard - suffered their first defeat of the series at the hands of Mascalzone Latino Audi. Synergy Russian Sailing Team took victory over Aleph and Luna Rossa defeated America’s Cup defender BMW Oracle Racing.

Tomorrow Azzurra will meet Team Origin, skippered by Ben Ainslie, in the fifth of six scheduled flights. The forecast is for west north-westerly winds of approximately 10 to 14 knots.

Azzurra
Louis Vuitton Trophy

LVT: ARTEMIS tied with Emirates Team NZ for 1st

by Paul Cayard

On ARTEMIS, we headed into today undefeated with four wins, having been at the top of the scoreboard for the last two days. A nice, but precarious position to be in with the best sailing teams in the world racing here in La Maddalena.

Emirates Team New Zealand, winners of the last Louis Vuitton Trophy were first up this morning winning their two races back to back against AZZURRA followed by ALEPH.

In race three it was Ben Ainslie and his team onboard TEAMORIGIN against the Russians on SYNERGY. In a tight fought match, it was the Brits who prevailed, winning by just 6 seconds.

Our race against Mascalzone Latino got underway at 1415, with a wind transition coming down the course. Gavin Brady, Skipper of Mascalzone Latino, wanted the left and we were happy with "wide right" as the right side of the line was favored. As we both headed back up to the Committee Boat end of the line we were overlapped to windward. The wind went even further right which further favored the right side but it was too much of a good thing as we found ourselves on the lay line to the committee boat. When the gun went off, both of us were at a stand still right next to the committee boat with Mascalzone Latino able to peel away and accelerate off the line.

By the time we got to the top of the course, the wind was gusting up to 20 knots and had actually gone 40 degrees back to the left. Mascalzone rounded with a nice gybe set and we planned to do the same. Unfortunately, our kite snagged on something and as soon as it filled...it exploded! We all carry a back up spinnaker onboard, but in the time it took to recover the halyard and hoist the new spinnaker, Mascalzone were well out in front. They sailed conservatively for the rest of the race and finished 46 seconds ahead of us.

In the fifth match of the day the Russians in Synergy defeated the French of Aleph. In the sixth race BMW Oracle faced Luna Rossa and this race went to the Italians.

Torbjorn Tornqvist, the chairman of ARTEMIS arrives tonight. We are all looking forward to seeing him and having him sail with the team for the next couple of days. I'm off to the gym.

To watch the racing live visit www.artemisracing.com and for complete results visit www.louisvuittontrophy.com

LVT: Sweden and New Zealand are tied at La Maddalena

Emirates Team New Zealand won two races today at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena to end the day first equal on points with Sweden's Artemis, each with 4-1 records


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Day6, © Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

by Peter Rusch

In other competition the Swedish boat skippered by Paul Cayard and steered by Terry Hutchinson lost today, the first time since the regatta in Sardinia started.

Crews in the ten international teams spent another long day on the water with the first race starting soon after 0900 and the last not finishing until 1730. There was wind all day from the west, shifty and with big speed changes on different parts of the course. There were gusts up to 20 knots near the weather mark.


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Day6. Dean Barker at the helm of Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), © Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

The shape of the scoreboard changed in the first four races as the Kiwis, third equal yesterday with two points, deftly dispatched Azzurra and then ALEPH Sailing Team to claim second place. In the fourth race Mascalzone Latino trounced Artemis to advance Team New Zealand to first equal.

“It was tough losing a race to Luna Rossa (on Tuesday) but losses sometimes help kick-start the team and make us realize we’ve always got things to work on. I think we’ve been sailing a lot better since that race,” said Dean Barker, skipper and helmsman of Team New Zealand.

Mascalzone Latino slammed the door on Artemis with a strategy the Italian team had been refining for some time. “The guys on the boat made a great call for the left side and Gavin did a beautiful job of executing that,” said tactician Morgan Larson. “We spent a lot of time this morning talking about Terry Hutchinson’s weaknesses in the prestart. I think Gavin exploited that weakness. It was very close. Terry was really close to getting an overlap with us that would have shifted everything. If they got an overlap they would have got the left and probably won the race.”


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Day6. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) vs Azurra (ITA), © Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Flight Sixteen, Race Two: Emirates Team New Zealand def Azzurra 00:13
Francesco Bruni steering Azzura gauged his start perfectly at the pin with speed. ETNZ on his hip was forced to tack away. The leg and the race belonged to Bruni but approaching the weather mark on port and leading, the Italians tacked short of the mark and opened the way for ETNZ to seize the starboard tack advantage, slip inside and hold their opponents out. The surprising reversal put the Kiwis 13 seconds ahead and they consolidated from there on.


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Day6. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) vs ALEPH Sailing Team (FRA), © Bob Grieser/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Flight Six, Race One: Emirates Team New Zealand def ALEPH Sailing Team 00:29
ETNZ dominated an initial race which was abandoned near the top mark due to a mark positioning error. The new start was initally a mirror of the first, a long starboard tack with ETNZ on ALEPH’s hip, until the French forced them to tack. However the Kiwis had the power of the right and forced the persistently-clinging French team away as they carried ALEPH above the weather mark for a seven second delta at the top mark.


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Sardegna-Race day six and TeamOrigin had a close battle with Synergy as they beat to the weather mark and a downwind run with TeamOrigin spilling the spinnaker all over the deck, © Bob Grieser/ousideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Flight Fifteen, Race Two: TEAMORIGIN def Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 00:06
ORIGIN was bow-out in mid-line at the start with Synergy close to the committee boat. The Russians hung tough on the starboard tack but were forced away after two minutes. They led approaching the starboard layline, only to drop back in a left shift that put Ainslie ahead by 14 seconds at the top mark. The boats rounded opposite leeward marks. ORIGIN conceded valuable seconds as the gennaker went under the bow but held a handy lead.

Flight Fourteen, Race One: Mascalzone Latino def Artemis, 00:46
Gavin Brady the Kiwi skipper of the Latin Rascals destroyed the perfect record of Sweden’s Artemis with a king-hit before the start. He locked out Sweden’s Terry Hutchinson on port tack before the gun, with both boats stalled below the line. Brady tacked, and got away first to lead at speed by 26 metres and pull away. The Italian boat was 22 seconds ahead at the top mark as the breeze built to 20 knots. Artemis set off on pursuit only to see their gennaker explode as they settled into the first run. Mascalzone sailed away.


Louis Vuitton Trophy, La Maddalena, Italy, May 22nd-June 6th 2010. Race Day 6. Artemis' (SWE) crew pull in the exploded kite, © Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Flight Sixteen, Race One: Synergy Russian Sailing Team def ALEPH Sailing Team, 00:33
Karol Jablonski won the start as both boats sailed slowly up to the committee boat on port. Jablonski tacked and sailed Synergy off the line at speed while Pacé was slow to tack ALEPH and follow. ALEPH drew level close to the top mark but Jablonski had starboard tack advantage and was nine seconds in front at the top mark.


Day 6, Luna Rossa (ITA), © Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Flight 22, Race One, Luna Rossa def BMW Oracle Racing, 00:22
This was a comprehensive victory for the Italians. They started at opposite ends of the line with Luna Rossa near the committee boat. James Spithill and BMW Oracle Racing got off the line faster near the pin but only enjoyed their lead for a few seconds. The Italian boat steered by Ed Baird was in better breeze and sailed steadily away from James Spithill and Oracle. Close to the port layline when Luna Rossa on starboard crossed ahead of her opponent, the Americans were 220 metres dead astern. They made subsequent gains but finished 50 metres back.

Provisional win-loss leaderboard after Thursday racing

=1. Artemis, 4-1, 4 points
=1. Emirates Team New Zealand, 4-1, 4 points

=3. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 4-1, 3 points *

=3. All4One, 3-3, 3 points

=3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 3-3, 3 points
=3. TEAMORIGIN, 3-3, 3 points
=7. Azzurra, 2-3, 2 points

=7. Luna Rossa, 2-5, 2 points
=9. BMW Oracle Racing Team, 1-4, 1 point
=10. ALEPH Sailing Team, 2-4, -2 points *

* Penalties deducted by Jury/Umpires

Louis Vuitton Trophy