Azzurra, Aleph grab first day wins
Source: Agencies |
March 10, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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AZZURRA of Italy, French outfit Aleph, the French-Germany team All4One and hosts Team New Zealand won match races yesterday on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy sailing regatta off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand.
Lack of wind delayed the start of racing for more than 4-1/2 hours on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf and wind shifts and changing currents made conditions difficult at the start of round robin racing among eight America's Cup teams.
Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, took advantage of local knowledge to beat Sweden's Artemis, with American Terry Hutchinson on the helm, by 1 minute, 40 seconds.
The New Zealanders led by 55 seconds at the first mark and, though the Swedish team closed to within 12 seconds downwind, the Kiwis pulled away again to lead by 1 minute, 20 seconds at the final rounding.
Shifting winds made tactics difficult but the hosts expertly read the currents and 5 to 7 knot winds to maintain their advantage.
Azzura, helmed by Francesco Bruni, won a gripping race by 53 seconds against TeamOrigin, skippered by Britain's triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie.
TeamOrigin rounded the first mark six seconds ahead and attempted to luff the Italians, but Bruni and his team executed a perfect spinnaker set, forced the British team into a downspeed gybe and sailed away.
"Azzurra sailed a good race today," Ainslie said. "They seem to have a knack of overtaking us which is getting very frustrating."
The French Aleph team, skippered by Bernard Pace, beat Russia's Synergy by 3 minutes, 26 seconds.
Aleph led over the start line before Synergy's Karel Jablonski applied the pressure on the first beat, restricting the French team's lead to 11 seconds at the top mark.
Lack of wind delayed the start of racing for more than 4-1/2 hours on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf and wind shifts and changing currents made conditions difficult at the start of round robin racing among eight America's Cup teams.
Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, took advantage of local knowledge to beat Sweden's Artemis, with American Terry Hutchinson on the helm, by 1 minute, 40 seconds.
The New Zealanders led by 55 seconds at the first mark and, though the Swedish team closed to within 12 seconds downwind, the Kiwis pulled away again to lead by 1 minute, 20 seconds at the final rounding.
Shifting winds made tactics difficult but the hosts expertly read the currents and 5 to 7 knot winds to maintain their advantage.
Azzura, helmed by Francesco Bruni, won a gripping race by 53 seconds against TeamOrigin, skippered by Britain's triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie.
TeamOrigin rounded the first mark six seconds ahead and attempted to luff the Italians, but Bruni and his team executed a perfect spinnaker set, forced the British team into a downspeed gybe and sailed away.
"Azzurra sailed a good race today," Ainslie said. "They seem to have a knack of overtaking us which is getting very frustrating."
The French Aleph team, skippered by Bernard Pace, beat Russia's Synergy by 3 minutes, 26 seconds.
Aleph led over the start line before Synergy's Karel Jablonski applied the pressure on the first beat, restricting the French team's lead to 11 seconds at the top mark.
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