Image copyright ACEA / Gilles Martin-Raget
America's Cup
Sunday, 21 April 2013
America's Cup : ACWS Naples Day 3 images from Gilles Martin-Raget
America's Cup
America's Cup : Slingsby ready to deliver America's Cup World Series championship for ORACLE TEAM USA
by America's Cup media
Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand won today’s fisticuffs on the Bay of Naples, but it was ORACLE TEAM USA’s Tom Slingsby who is on the verge of securing the season-long battle for the 2012-2013 America’s Cup World Series Championship in Jimmy Spithill’s No. 4 boat.
Spithill led ORACLE TEAM USA to the inaugural America’s Cup World Series season championship last year, and opened a 44-point lead through the first two regattas in the second season of racing.
He couldn’t attend this week’s regatta because the team is about to launch its second AC72 in preparation for the upcoming 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco (Sept. 7-21) so in stepped Slingsby, the Laser class Gold medalist at last summer’s Olympics.
Slingsby has shown a steady hand in his first America’s Cup World Series regatta, leading the team into tomorrow’s match racing championship and also eyeing a chance to win the fleet racing championship. But regardless of how he finishes tomorrow, ORACLE TEAM USA is in a strong position for the overall season championship (barring an unforeseen circumstance).
“It’s great for the team, winning the America’s Cup World Series for the second year in a row,” said Slingsby. “I’m glad I could help in some way, but this championship doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to Jimmy and his team for setting it all up. I came in with a nice big lead.”
In some of the most challenging conditions seen yet at America’s Cup World Series Naples, Emirates Team New Zealand showed jet-like speed in winning both of today’s fleet races. The wind strength ranged between 7 and 12 knots but there was a nasty chop on the bay that placed added emphasis on smooth boathandling.
After scoring the double firsts, Emirates Team New Zealand is the third overall leader of the series in as many days. Barker’s crew led the first race from start to finish and then pulled off a nifty pass on Luna Rossa Swordfish (Francesco Bruni) to win the second race.
“I feel like all through training and racing we’ve had good pace through all the conditions,” said Barker. “But there’s a bit of a mistral pushing a little bit of seaway into the bay. It makes these boats nasty to sail, they don’t like waves. But it rewards good crew work and I think that’s a strength of our team.”
Slingsby placed 2-5 in the two fleet races and trails Emirates Team New Zealand by 5 points. The ORACLE TEAM USA tactician/strategist began his day with a victory in the match racing semi final over Ben Ainslie’s J.P. Morgan BAR. Although the two are brothers in arms in ORACLE TEAM USA, there was no quarter given in their quick, 11-minute match race.
The pair was locked in battle up the first beat when Slingsby won the first cross. He gained a bit of control over Ainslie but almost gave it away at the windward mark. Ainslie was on port tack in the three-boatlength circle ahead of Slingsby on starboard tack. Under the racing rules Ainslie had rights to round the mark, but Slingsby crossed and rounded the left-hand mark while Ainslie bore away to round the right-hand mark.
“We peeled off on the gate. The left-hand side of the course seemed to be working. It was pretty close,” said Ainslie. “Full credit to them, hopefully they can win tomorrow.”
ORACLE TEAM USA races Luna Rossa Swordfish in tomorrow’s match racing championship. Bruni also won an in-house battle in the semi finals when he beat Chris Draper and the Luna Rossa Piranha crew. The two squared off after an extended training period in New Zealand.
“I feel comfortable, I feel all the training we have done in Auckland was very useful,” said Bruni. “We really put a lot of hours into our match racing skills. I think Chris has improved a lot and I’ve improved a lot steering.”
Slingsby, who has overcome the pressure of winning a Gold medal as a heavy favorite, has his sights set high for tomorrow.
“I want to win tomorrow,” Slingsby said. “New Zealand has a nice lead right now, but if we win tomorrow we’ll take the glory. For the team it’s great, but for me personally my job’s not done yet. I want to win tomorrow.
“This is my one chance in an America’s Cup World Series. Who knows when the next event will be so I’m trying to make most of it,” he said.
Tomorrow’s broadcast begins at 14:30 local time (CEST) and will be streamed live worldwide on the America’s Cup YouTube channel (subject to territorial rights agreements).
Download the full race schedule and format here
America’s Cup World Series Naples Championship Standings
(Provisional, after 6 of 7 scheduled races)
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) – 60 points
2. ORACLE TEAM USA (Tom Slingsby) – 55
3. J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) – 52
4. Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) – 50
5. Energy Team (Yann Guichard) – 42
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish (Francesco Bruni) – 40
7. Artemis Racing White (Charlie Ekberg) – 31
8. HS Racing (R. Hagara/H.S. Steinacher) – 26
9. China Team (Mitch Booth) – 22
2012-2013 America's Cup World Series Season Championship
(Provisional, after 20 of 21 races)
1. ORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL/SLINGSBY – 220 points
2. Luna Rossa Piranha – 171
3. J.P. Morgan BAR – 168
4. Emirates Team New Zealand – 160
5. Artemis Racing White – 151
6. Energy Team – 144
7. Luna Rossa Swordfish – 111
8. Team Korea – 105
9. ORACLE TEAM USA COUTTS – 98
10. Artemis Racing Red – 90
11. China Team – 65
12. HS Racing – 26
Sunday’s Match Racing Schedule
Final: ORACLE TEAM USA SLINGSBY vs. Luna Rossa Swordfish
Provisional Match Racing Standings
3rd place – J.P. Morgan BAR,
4th – Luna Rossa Piranha,
5th – Emirates Team New Zealand,
6th – Artemis Racing White,
7th – Energy Team,
8th – HS Racing,
9th – China Team
America's Cup
America's Cup : Luna Rossa Swordfish qualified for Match Race Final
Image copyright Luna Rossa Challenge/Carlo Borlenghi
by Luna Rossa Challenge media
Sun and partially cloudy skies, stronger wind, 12-14 knots from 210° with 1 meter waves
Match Race 1
The day started with the “in-house” semi -final between the two Luna Rossa. Luna Rossa Swordfishes’ damages incurred in yesterday’s collision were repaired throughout the night.
At the start both boats are penalized for OCS (early over the line), with Luna Rossa Swordfish on leeward. When accelerating again Luna Rossa Swordfish is in the better position, inside the mark and rounding both the reach and the leeward gate in front. On the windward leg, at the first cross, Draper closes the distance on Bruni but, being on port, is forced to give way. Bruni then chooses to sail on the left of the course where he finds more pressure, thus increasing his lead on Piranha. Swordfish will maintain his position up to the finish and qualifies for tomorrow’s match race finals.
Fleet Race 1
Luna Rossa Piranha starts free in the middle of the line but is penalized for OCS (early over the line), whereas Swordfish on pin end is rolled and at the reaching mark lies 4th right behind Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle and Artemis. On the first windward leg Piranha chooses the right of the course and closes the gap with the leaders who went for the offshore option.
Half way on windward leg Luna Rossa Piranha also tacks offshore and finds stronger pressure. At the windward mark Luna Rossa Piranha rounds in 3rd place whereas Luna Rossa Swordfish loses contact with the leaders. At the leeward mark the positions are mostly unchanged. During the second windward leg Luna Rossa Swordfish, with careful tactics, gains positions and rounds the mark in 5th place, overtaking Artemis. On the final downwind the ranking is unchanged and Luna Rossa Piranha finishes 3rd, Luna Rossa Swordfish 5th.
Fleet Race 2
Luna Rossa Swordfish starts well on the Committee boat whereas Luna Rossa Piranha, mid line, despite a good timing, is rolled. Luna Rossa Swordfish is first to round the reaching mark and at the leeward gate chooses the right side of the course, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand and Ben Ainslie Racing. At the first windward mark these positions are unchanged, with Artemis 4th but penalized for not giving way to Luna Rossa Piranha who then takes his position. On the downwind, sailing on the right of the course, Emirates Team New Zealand gains on Luna Rossa Swordfish and rounds the mark in front, followed by Ben Ainslie Racing and Luna Rossa Piranha. On the second windward and the following leeward leg the positions will not change, with Luna Rossa Swordfish finishing 2nd and Luna Rossa Piranha 4th.
Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena said: “Our first victory of the day was our shore team’s result; they worked all night and were able not only to repair the damages but to make Swordfish fit to win. Tomorrow we will sail the match race finals; today’s results also keep us in business for the final fleet podium.”
Ranking
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 60
2. Oracle Team Usa Slingsby 55
3. J.P. Morgan BAR 52
4. Luna Rossa Piranha 50
5. Energy Team 42
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish 40
7. Artemis Racing White 31
8. HS Racing 26
9. China Team 22
In Italian:
Condizioni di vento più fresco rispetto ai giorni precedenti, con sole e vento 210°, 12-14 nodi, onda di circa 1 metro.
Regata di Match Race
Semi finale tutta in “casa” tra le due Luna Rossa, con Luna Rossa Swordfish riparata durante la notte dai danni subiti nella collisione di ieri. Alla partenza ambedue le imbarcazioni sono fuori dalla linea e vengono penalizzate, con Luna Rossa Swordfish sottovento.
Alla ripartenza è Luna Rossa Swordfish ad avere la meglio: è interna in boa e vira in testa anche il cancello di poppa. Sul bordo di bolina al primo incrocio Draper ha recuperato terreno su Francesco Bruni ma è costretto a poggiare e a cedergli la rotta in quanto mure a sinistra. Bruni sceglie il bordo a mare e si allunga, virando il cancello in netto vantaggio su Luna Rossa Piranha, vantaggio che conserverà fino all’arrivo, qualificandosi per la finale di match race che si disputerà domani.
Regata di Flotta 1
Luna Rossa Piranha sceglie di partire a metà linea, libero, ma viene penalizzato per partenza anticipata mentre Luna Rossa Swordfish in boa viene rollato ed è 4° al disimpegno dietro a Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle e Artemis. Nella prima bolina Luna Rossa Piranha sceglie il bordo a terra e recupera terreno, riportandosi in contatto con il gruppo di testa che ha scelto il bordo in mare.
A metà bolina anche Luna Rossa Piranha vira verso il largo dove la pressione è migliore. Alla boa di bolina Luna Rossa Piranha vira terzo mentre Luna Rossa Swordfish perde terreno e il contatto con il gruppo di testa. Al cancello di poppa le posizioni di testa sono invariate mentre nella seconda bolina Luna Rossa Swordfish, con una tattica attenta, recupera posizioni e vira quinto, passando Artemis in boa. Nel bordo finale di poppa la classifica rimane invariata con Luna Rossa Piranha che conclude in 3° posizione e Luna Rossa Swordfish 5°.
Regata di Flotta 2
Luna Rossa Swordfish parte bene in barca comitato mentre Luna Rossa Piranha, a metà linea, nonostante un buon timing, viene rollato. Luna Rossa Swordfish è prima alla boa di disimpegno e al cancello di poppa e sceglie la destra del lato di bolina, seguito da Emirates Team New Zealand e Ben Ainslie Racing. Alla prima boa di bolina queste posizioni rimangono invariate con Artemis 4° che viene però penalizzata per non aver dato acqua a Luna Rossa Piranha. Nella poppa, con un bordo al largo, Emirates Team New Zealand recupera terreno su Luna Rossa Swordfish e al cancello riesce a virare in testa, seguito da Luna Rossa Luna Rossa Swordfish, Ben Ainslie Racing e Luna Rossa Piranha. Nella seconda bolina e nella poppa queste posizioni rimarranno invariate fino all’arrivo della regata.
Max Sirena, skipper di Luna Rossa, ha dichiarato: “La prima vittoria di oggi è stata quella dello shore team che, lavorando tutta la notte, è riuscito a riparare i danni e ha consentito a Luna Rossa Swordfish non solo di regatare ma anche di vincere. Domani siamo in finale del match race e i risultati di oggi ci consentono di essere sempre in lizza per la classifica finale delle regate di flotta, grazie ai coefficienti dell’ultima prova”.
Classifica generale
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 60
2. Oracle Team Usa Slingsby 55
3. J.P. Morgan BAR 52
4. Luna Rossa Piranha 50
5. Energy Team 42
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish 40
7. Artemis Racing White 31
8. HS Racing 26
9. China Team 22
Luna Rossa Challenge 2013
America's Cup
by Luna Rossa Challenge media
Sun and partially cloudy skies, stronger wind, 12-14 knots from 210° with 1 meter waves
Match Race 1
The day started with the “in-house” semi -final between the two Luna Rossa. Luna Rossa Swordfishes’ damages incurred in yesterday’s collision were repaired throughout the night.
At the start both boats are penalized for OCS (early over the line), with Luna Rossa Swordfish on leeward. When accelerating again Luna Rossa Swordfish is in the better position, inside the mark and rounding both the reach and the leeward gate in front. On the windward leg, at the first cross, Draper closes the distance on Bruni but, being on port, is forced to give way. Bruni then chooses to sail on the left of the course where he finds more pressure, thus increasing his lead on Piranha. Swordfish will maintain his position up to the finish and qualifies for tomorrow’s match race finals.
Fleet Race 1
Luna Rossa Piranha starts free in the middle of the line but is penalized for OCS (early over the line), whereas Swordfish on pin end is rolled and at the reaching mark lies 4th right behind Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle and Artemis. On the first windward leg Piranha chooses the right of the course and closes the gap with the leaders who went for the offshore option.
Half way on windward leg Luna Rossa Piranha also tacks offshore and finds stronger pressure. At the windward mark Luna Rossa Piranha rounds in 3rd place whereas Luna Rossa Swordfish loses contact with the leaders. At the leeward mark the positions are mostly unchanged. During the second windward leg Luna Rossa Swordfish, with careful tactics, gains positions and rounds the mark in 5th place, overtaking Artemis. On the final downwind the ranking is unchanged and Luna Rossa Piranha finishes 3rd, Luna Rossa Swordfish 5th.
Fleet Race 2
Luna Rossa Swordfish starts well on the Committee boat whereas Luna Rossa Piranha, mid line, despite a good timing, is rolled. Luna Rossa Swordfish is first to round the reaching mark and at the leeward gate chooses the right side of the course, followed by Emirates Team New Zealand and Ben Ainslie Racing. At the first windward mark these positions are unchanged, with Artemis 4th but penalized for not giving way to Luna Rossa Piranha who then takes his position. On the downwind, sailing on the right of the course, Emirates Team New Zealand gains on Luna Rossa Swordfish and rounds the mark in front, followed by Ben Ainslie Racing and Luna Rossa Piranha. On the second windward and the following leeward leg the positions will not change, with Luna Rossa Swordfish finishing 2nd and Luna Rossa Piranha 4th.
Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena said: “Our first victory of the day was our shore team’s result; they worked all night and were able not only to repair the damages but to make Swordfish fit to win. Tomorrow we will sail the match race finals; today’s results also keep us in business for the final fleet podium.”
Ranking
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 60
2. Oracle Team Usa Slingsby 55
3. J.P. Morgan BAR 52
4. Luna Rossa Piranha 50
5. Energy Team 42
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish 40
7. Artemis Racing White 31
8. HS Racing 26
9. China Team 22
In Italian:
Condizioni di vento più fresco rispetto ai giorni precedenti, con sole e vento 210°, 12-14 nodi, onda di circa 1 metro.
Regata di Match Race
Semi finale tutta in “casa” tra le due Luna Rossa, con Luna Rossa Swordfish riparata durante la notte dai danni subiti nella collisione di ieri. Alla partenza ambedue le imbarcazioni sono fuori dalla linea e vengono penalizzate, con Luna Rossa Swordfish sottovento.
Alla ripartenza è Luna Rossa Swordfish ad avere la meglio: è interna in boa e vira in testa anche il cancello di poppa. Sul bordo di bolina al primo incrocio Draper ha recuperato terreno su Francesco Bruni ma è costretto a poggiare e a cedergli la rotta in quanto mure a sinistra. Bruni sceglie il bordo a mare e si allunga, virando il cancello in netto vantaggio su Luna Rossa Piranha, vantaggio che conserverà fino all’arrivo, qualificandosi per la finale di match race che si disputerà domani.
Regata di Flotta 1
Luna Rossa Piranha sceglie di partire a metà linea, libero, ma viene penalizzato per partenza anticipata mentre Luna Rossa Swordfish in boa viene rollato ed è 4° al disimpegno dietro a Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle e Artemis. Nella prima bolina Luna Rossa Piranha sceglie il bordo a terra e recupera terreno, riportandosi in contatto con il gruppo di testa che ha scelto il bordo in mare.
A metà bolina anche Luna Rossa Piranha vira verso il largo dove la pressione è migliore. Alla boa di bolina Luna Rossa Piranha vira terzo mentre Luna Rossa Swordfish perde terreno e il contatto con il gruppo di testa. Al cancello di poppa le posizioni di testa sono invariate mentre nella seconda bolina Luna Rossa Swordfish, con una tattica attenta, recupera posizioni e vira quinto, passando Artemis in boa. Nel bordo finale di poppa la classifica rimane invariata con Luna Rossa Piranha che conclude in 3° posizione e Luna Rossa Swordfish 5°.
Regata di Flotta 2
Luna Rossa Swordfish parte bene in barca comitato mentre Luna Rossa Piranha, a metà linea, nonostante un buon timing, viene rollato. Luna Rossa Swordfish è prima alla boa di disimpegno e al cancello di poppa e sceglie la destra del lato di bolina, seguito da Emirates Team New Zealand e Ben Ainslie Racing. Alla prima boa di bolina queste posizioni rimangono invariate con Artemis 4° che viene però penalizzata per non aver dato acqua a Luna Rossa Piranha. Nella poppa, con un bordo al largo, Emirates Team New Zealand recupera terreno su Luna Rossa Swordfish e al cancello riesce a virare in testa, seguito da Luna Rossa Luna Rossa Swordfish, Ben Ainslie Racing e Luna Rossa Piranha. Nella seconda bolina e nella poppa queste posizioni rimarranno invariate fino all’arrivo della regata.
Max Sirena, skipper di Luna Rossa, ha dichiarato: “La prima vittoria di oggi è stata quella dello shore team che, lavorando tutta la notte, è riuscito a riparare i danni e ha consentito a Luna Rossa Swordfish non solo di regatare ma anche di vincere. Domani siamo in finale del match race e i risultati di oggi ci consentono di essere sempre in lizza per la classifica finale delle regate di flotta, grazie ai coefficienti dell’ultima prova”.
Classifica generale
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 60
2. Oracle Team Usa Slingsby 55
3. J.P. Morgan BAR 52
4. Luna Rossa Piranha 50
5. Energy Team 42
6. Luna Rossa Swordfish 40
7. Artemis Racing White 31
8. HS Racing 26
9. China Team 22
Luna Rossa Challenge 2013
America's Cup
America's Cup : J.P.Morgan BAR ready for the final showdown on Super Sunday
JP Morgan BAR in action. Image copyright Lloyd Images/JP Morgan BAR
by Lucy Harwood
After a challenging day in Naples, J.P.Morgan BAR sit in third place overall, eight points from Emirates Team New Zealand who lead after three days of fleet racing. Tomorrow is Super Sunday and the team is within touching distance of the event title here in Naples, with 40 points on offer for first place, 25 for second and 20 for third from tomorrow’s final fleet race, one small mistake by anyone can mean a big difference on the leaderboard, so there is everything to play for.
The team started the day going head to head with ORACLE TEAM USA in the first match racing semi-final. Simon Daubney talked through the race, “We felt we were in a good position at the start but they (OTUSA) managed to approach the line from a bit further back and they were able to pull the trigger and get going with enough speed to roll over the top of us. We came back at them and made it interesting but we couldn’t do enough to get past, so we were left to settle for third place in the match race, which was a tough way to start the day."
The team rolled into two more fleet races, the conditions in Naples remained inconsistent fluctuating from 7 to 12 knots and big shifts in the wind direction. The team had a good start on race one, but a gybe at the first bottom gate saw several boats roll past them forcing the team to end up deep in the fleet stuck fighting for clean air. The crew stayed focused and kept fighting hard, it paid off and they secured fourth place and eight valuable points.
The second fleet race was the best start the team has had since the first day of racing, they rounded the first gate in second close behind Luna Rossa Swordfish with Emirates Team New Zealand chasing in third. The battle for the top three spots was hard fought, the lead constantly changing hands as the crews pushed each other to the limits. It was a consistent performance by the crew onboard Emirates Team New Zealand that saw them take their second win of the day, with Luna Rossa Swordfish stealing second from J.P.Morgan BAR after they received a penalty for sailing past the boundary line on the first downwind leg. But the team did enough to stay third overall.
Skipper Ben Ainslie reflected on the team’s performance, “It was a tough day today, we lost the match racing semi-final which was pretty frustrating. During the fleet races things didn’t really seem to fall into place today for whatever reason, which was again frustrating for us. But the guys hung in there we are just eight points from the leader and still in a good position for the overall victory at this event in the final fleet race. We will regroup, we’ll dig deep and try and have a good one tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s Super Sunday final fleet race will start at 1515 CET, bumper points are on offer with 40 points for first place. For J.P.Morgan BAR it will come down to the wire, they have to win the final fleet race in order to take the event title here in Naples. The battle for second for the overall series title will be won or lost on tomorrow’s race.
JP Morgan BAR. Image copyright Lloyd Images/JP Morgan BAR
Day 3 Naples – Overall standings after six fleet races
1 EMIRATES TEAM NZ – 60 pts
2 ORACLE TEAM USA SLINGSBY – 55 pts
3 J.P. MORGAN BAR – 52 pts
4 LUNA ROSSA PIRANHA – 50 pts
5 ENERGY TEAM – 42 pts
6 LUNA ROSSA SWORDFISH – 40 pts
7 ARTEMIS WHITE – 31 pts
8 HS RACING – 26 pts
9 CHINA TEAM – 22 pts
Super Sunday points break down
Place / Points: races 1-6 / Points: race 7
1st – 12 – 40
2nd – 10 – 25
3rd – 9 – 20
4th – 8 – 16
5th – 7 – 13
6th – 6 – 11
7th – 5 – 10
8th – 4 – 9
9th – 3 – 8
Schedule for Sunday, 21st April
13:00 Dock-out
14:40 AC World Series Naples – Match Racing Semi Finals
15:15 AC World Series Naples – Fleet Races 5 and 6
16:00 AC World Series Naples Prizegiving Ceremony
JP Morgan BAR
America's Cup
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