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10:01 AM Mon 2 Feb 2009 GMT
 | | 'No spinnakers after windward mark rounding - race 5 - Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Day 4'
Richard Gladwell |
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Day Four Results and Reports - 2nd February, 2009
Race 5:
Luna Rossa beat Shosholoza - 1m9s
The Italian team Luna Rossa skippered by Peter Holmberg prevailed in a trial by fire initiated by Paolo Cian at the helm of Shosholoza in the South African boat's second race in a row. The incident-packed competition was the resail of a race abandoned yesterday. After a tense pre-start battle, the boats split. Luna Rossa had won the right but when they closed for the first time the two boats were still even. Cian kept the pressure on and led around the top mark only to be penalized on the run during a series of side-by-side gybes. Holmberg was just five seconds ahead at the leeward mark. But not for long. It was the South African boat's turn to lead again at the second windward mark, following a series of defensive downspeed tacks as Cian carried him above the mark. The race took a bizarre turn on the run as Cian continued under jib and tried to position himself to penalise Holmberg and thereby wipe off his own penalty. The first half of the run was a series of slow, jerky S-turns as the two boats fought for position. Eventually Cian was penalised a second time, forcing him under the rules to immediately take his first penalty turn. The Italians sailed away to win by 1m9s.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:11 - Shosholoza
Mark 2 - 0:05 - Luna Rossa
Mark 3 - 0:18 - Shosholoza
Finish - 1:09 - Luna Rossa
Race 4:
TEAMORIGIN beat Shosholoza - 48s
The fourth race of the day, starting at 1700 hours local time, resulted in the most original tussle for the right side of the course. British skipper Ben Ainslie got control of Shosholza's Paolo Cian early and chased him out above the committee boat and out to the right before returning to protect his right advantage. Cian came reaching back at speed down the line to cross narrowly in front of the British boat. The move gave the Italian skipper the lead for the first two thirds of the first leg but as they came together on their fourth tack, he was forced to take the Briton's stern. It was another close race at the first mark with Ainslie just 15 seconds ahead but the Olympic gold medallist was able to open out and extend for subsequent legs and win by 48 seconds.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:15 - TEAMORIGIN
Mark 2 - 0:30 - TEAMORIGIN
Mark 3 - 0:39 - TEAMORIGIN
Finish - 0:48 - TEAMORIGIN
Race 3:
BMW Oracle Racing beat Pataugas K-Challenge - 54s
With the northerly breeze steady at 14 knots and the tide ebbing in the Rangitoto Channel, the French and US boats fought for the right but it was Russell Coutts on BMWOR in control as they approached the start line. Sebastien Col started at speed on starboard in the middle of the line while Coutts tacked and split left. The French looked good and enjoyed the lead for the first half of the leg as they separated for over 1,000 meters but as the boats closed it was obvious Coutts had the upper hand. The French were still in attacking range at the top mark, just 13 seconds behind the American boat but Coutts kept the pressure on and sailed steadily away to win by nearly a minute.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:13 - BMW Oracle Racing
Mark 2 - 0:27 - BMW Oracle Racing
Mark 3 - 0:37 - BMW Oracle Racing
Finish - 0:54 - BMW Oracle Racing
Race 2:
Luna Rossa beat Greek Team - 54s
Gavin Brady, skipper of the Greek Team, mixed it up with Peter Holmberg, steering Luna Rossa, before the start. As the seconds ticked down Holmberg hooked his opponent, forcing him to tack away, then appealed for a penalty. The umpires waved their green flag to deny the request. Brady headed for the middle of the line but then tacked at the last minute, crossing behind the Italian boat to tack again and start late at the committee boat. His two extra tacks gave him nominal control of the right but the Greek boat never had the boat speed to enforce it. By now the northerly breeze was steady at 12 knots and the sea conditions flat. A long starboard tack by both boats, amost out to the port tack layline, saw Luna Rossa comfortably tack and cross ahead. The Italians were never seriously challenged and finished almost a minute ahead.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:27 - Luna Rossa
Mark 2 - 0:29 - Luna Rossa
Mark 3 - 0:46 - Luna Rossa
Finish - 0:54 - Luna Rossa
Race 1:
Emirates Team New Zealand beat China Team - 59s
The breeze finally settled from the north and racing started in about eight knots of wind. Ian Williams at the helm of China Team appeared reluctant to tangle with the Kiwis and bore off down the middle of the line, hitting it at speed. The Chinese boat was a fraction too early as it came on the wind and was recalled while ETNZ made a perfect start at the committee boat. The New Zealanders were in their comfort zone on their home waters at the edge of the Hauraki Gulf and maintained a loose cover as they extended away. The winning margin for the New Zealand boat was 240 metres.
Deltas
Mark 1 - 0:45 - ETNZ
Mark 2 - 0:54 - ETNZ
Mark 3 - 0:53 - ETNZ
Finish - 0:59 - ETNZ
Pre-Race Report 1430 hours New Zealand time
The breeze is building now from a north-easterly direction and the race committee has moved to a position outside the Waitemata Harbor. They are now in the Rangitoto Channel to the northwest of Rangitoto Light and are setting a course that will take the boats in towards Takapuna Beach. Postponement flag is set to come down at 1435 hours
Pre-Race Report 1330 hours New Zealand time
The tide has changed and new breeze has begun to filter in from the predicted north-easterly direction. Principal Race Officer Peter 'Luigi' Reggio is keeping the race boats on hold in the Rangitoto Channel off North Head in anticipation of better wind as the afternoon wears on.
Pre-Race Report 1230 hours New Zealand time
Breeze started to fill in from the southwest at around 1230 hours as the competing systems fought for dominance, but it was not sufficient to start a race. Based on earlier forecasts we may have to wait until around 1400 hours for the new frontal wind to settle from the north-east.
Pre-Race Report 1100 hours New Zealand time
At 1050 hours this morning the Race Committee hoisted the 'A over P' signal, indicating a race postponement while the boats wait for wind.
A weak cold front passed over Auckland last night but its full effect had not been felt on the downtown Auckland waterfront this morning as the four race boats and the support fleet prepared to leave the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin.
At the briefing at 0900, chaired by Kevin Shoebridge from Emirates Team New Zealand, teams were told it was hoped to complete five races today - the four scheduled races, plus yesterday's abandoned match between Shosholoza and Luna Rossa.
ETNZ weather guru Roger 'Clouds' Badham reported southerly breeze at 10-15 knots at Bean Rock on the inner edge of the four harbour race courses but cautioned that this would die at some point during the morning. He expressed hope that at least one pair of races could be completed before the southerly died.
Clouds described the southerly front that crossed Auckland as a 'messy one,' split in two by the land mass of the North Island. He predicted that wind on the eastern side of the front would fill in towards Auckland from the Coromandel with a north-easterly component. He forecast building breeze as the afternoon wears on. For now, we wait.
by Luis Vuitton Pacific Series Media
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Mount Wellington, TAS
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Foiling - Windsurfing Foilboards
