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11:14 AM Mon 9 Feb 2009 GMT
There were no major weather delays today in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
Race 4:
BMW Oracle Racing beat Emirates Team New Zealand - 27s
Rain advanced onto the course for the awaited match between Dean Barker and Russell Coutts but did little to cloud Coutt's vision. The skipper for the American team broke off early from his pre-start circling with Emirates Team New Zealand's Dean Barker and made a perfectly-timed start to leeward of the Kiwi boat. Barker was a fraction slower and tacked away in the direction of the starboard layline. As the rain grew in intensity Coutt's team worked the shifts to extend their early advantage. When the Americans tacked to lay the weather mark on port the Kiwi boat was trailing by 70 metres and never really got close again.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:20 - BMWOR
Mark 2 - 0:24 - BMWOR
Mark 3 - 0:32 - BMWOR
Finish - 0:27 - BMWOR
Race 3:
Damiani beat TEAMORIGIN - 24s
An unforced error cost the new British TEAMORIGIN its match with the new Italian Damiani Italia Challenge right at the start gun. Olympic ace Ben Ainslie at the helm of the British boat, made the most of his starboard tack advantage in the prestart and shepherded the Italians back to the line with the seconds ticking down. Shut out from the right side, helmsman Francesco Bruno and his skipper/tactician Vasco Vascotto settled for a full speed start to leeward of the British boat and with plenty of separation. It was textbook stuff from Ainslie except that the recall signal sounded, indicating that the Britons were a fraction early. After returning, the British boat got close on the second run but were never a serious threat.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:37 - E
Mark 2 - 0:35 - E
Mark 3 - 0:14 - E
Finish - 0:24 - E
Race 2:
Greek Challenge beat Shosholoza Challenge - 31s
In the sail-off for eighth and ninth place amongst the challenger fleet, the rookie Greek Challenge made its final mark on this regatta beating the established Team Shosholoza. The Greeks, who have been under the tutelage of experienced New Zealand skipper Gavin Brady in their debut event, dominated the pre-start, and shut out Paolo Cian and the South African team in the scrimmage for the far left-hand corner of the start line. They immediately pulled out to a 100m advantage on the first beat, leading by 23s at the top mark, but Shosholoza gained ground downwind by heading out to the left, cutting the difference to 10s as the boats rounded opposite buoys at the bottom gate. The distance between the boats accordioned upwind and Shosholoza looked to be in their strongest position going into the final run. But the Greeks played it sensible and safe to the finish, winning by 31s, and finishing their first event in Cup boats in eighth place.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:23 - Greek Challenge
Mark 2 - 0:09 - Greek Challenge
Mark 3 - 0:10 - Greek Challenge
Finish - 0:31 - Greek Challenge
Race 1:
Alinghi beat Luna Rossa - 23s
Ed Baird, at the Alinghi's wheel, had the right-hand advantage entering the starting box and used it to good advantage, despite a strong challenge from Peter Holmberg steering Luna Rossa. Conditions were perfect on an outer course on the edge of the Hauraki Gulf, with flat seas and northerly wind at 12-13 knots. The boats split on opposite tacks approaching the line with the Swiss at the committee boat and the Italians at the pin. Holmberg tacked and paced it with Baird out to the right and then made a lee bow tack under the Swiss bow when they came back on starboard. It was a move that should have forced the Swiss away but Baird hung on to take the Italians out to the port tack layline, before leading into the mark. The Italians kept it close after that but never really looked dangerous.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:11 - Alinghi
Mark 2 - 0:17 - Alinghi
Mark 3 - 0:22 - Alinghi
Finish - 0:23 - Alinghi
Pre-Race Report 1100 hours NZ Time
Ground mist in Auckland at dawn. It gave way to very light wind from the southeast. This may be the end of our prolonged sunny spell of weather. A warm front associated with a low pressure system will bring rain later today and overnight. The gradient winds today will come from the north and might be boosted a little by the sea breeze effect if we don't have too much cloud. There were signs of the new northerly breeze at 1100 hours.
The forecast calls for five to seven knots from the North at 1200, building to 8-12 by 1400 and 11-14 knots at 1600. The race start has been delayed but racing is expected to start before noon on the Blue Course.
There will be four races today - the three remaining races for the Gold Fleet and the sailoff for LVPS 9th and 10th places between the Greek Challenge and Team Shosholoza.
by Keith Taylor and ARL
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Lord Howe Island Windy Point, NSW
Kitesurfing - Kites
Foiling - Wind Wing Foilboards
