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Swiss take race one

Posted 1 year, 3 months ago

Swiss take race one
Among hundreds of spectator boats, cow bells and Buzzy Bees, the three year wait is over. Team New Zealand seemed to be in the drivers seat pulling off their classic point real high right off the line and having the immediate advantage over Alinghi. Clearly Alinghi was up on their game so that when New Zealand peeled of to the right after an intial dialup, Alinghi dug down extremely deep under NZ. This meant they had leeway when NZ jibed around for the startline. Alinghi followed their jibe but staying to leeward enough and ahead so as not to get controlled back to the line.New Zealand used another tactic of feigning trying to get an leeward overlap or the hook . Some lesser teams would take the bait and get pushed down the line further, Alinghi held its ground without losing speed.Once across the line, ETNZ used their incredible pointing ability to try to get to weather. Normally, once to weather they would run down over their competition. Alinghi not quite as fast at first gained a notch and forced to Kiwis to tack away, which is what they wanted anyway. Alinghi went about ten boatlenghts and tacked to port. They got a good lift on the left which they used the advantage gained to leebow NZ when they came back at them. Each time they came together, Alinghi had eeked out a little more until they could cross them cleanly. It was a covering game from there on out. Full Story »

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