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Race 25, Emirates Team New Zealand vs Alinghi Red Bull Racing

 

The defender vs the rookie


It's still windy, meaning big speeds in the start box. Nathan Outteridge on ETNZ is all about avoiding the gas off the other boat. They are screaming for the line in the leeward position with Alinghi coming in on windward. But as ETNZ coach Ray Davies says later, ‘The wheels were spinning but we weren’t going forward and got a bit late at the start.’

Yep, the early advantage is to the Swiss, a rookie team. Ouch.

Peter Lester: ‘Not a great start by Peter Burling but the Kiwis seem to have an extra gear.’ ETNZ has a significantly smaller jib which gives them an advantage upwind and the advantage of incurring less aerodrag through the tacks, but the trade-off may be a speed disadvantage downwind.

Coming into gate one, the delta is just 7 seconds ahead of Alinghi. Crikey. This is close.

ETNZ has a little more twist in the mainsail and is extending the lead slightly on leg two.

The smaller jib is doing the job downward and commentator Peter Lester observes that the Kiwis seem able to get into a mode and set a sailplan that gives them the same power for a smaller jib.

On gate two, ETNZ goes into the mark ultra-hot on one foil and does a really ugly exit around the mark, shaving off lots of speed. The delta is just 14. I hope Jimmy’s not watching this. Of course, he’s watching.

Apart from that slight misdemeanour, ETNZ is gradually extending its lead to post a delta of 38 by gate 5 and it’s still 38 at the finish. They haven’t sailed a flawless race and I do have a few concerns, but ETNZ is in this round robin to learn – they have nothing to lose by losing.


© Rebecca Hayter

Photo credit: Emirates Team New Zealand, Ian Roman, America's Cup

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