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Match 4 Review: Even at 2 Each

Posted 1 year, 2 months ago

Match 4 Review: Even at 2 Each
Dockout was at 13:00 with both teams hoisting their mainsails in the basin while our VIP guests watched from the top-floor deck of our team base, and enjoyed a brief "Dockout Show" with expert commentary from Ian "Fresh"Burns (AUS, design coordinator) and John "Z" Ziskind (USA, sailing team). Pre-start maneuvering was fairly tame today, with ETNZ clearly wanting and getting the left while Alinghi grabbed the right. The first shift was to the right... ...and Alinghi climbed into a comfortable three boat-length lead, which... they maintained more or less all the way around the track -- upwind and... ...down. Ernesto and Brad were a little happier with today's win, than they were after yesterday's loss. Brad fronted up at the press conference and said they had not changed their tactics today, it was just that today's conditions were a little less extreme in terms of shifts and holes making it easier to close cover. Murray Jones was with Brad, and commented that they had no problem getting the main down in compliance with the class rules, despite having a man up the rig at the same time (for reasons of safety, th rules require that you must be able to release the mainsail halyard lock from the cockpit without sending a man up the rig). Murray said they sent the man up to be sure sail did not come crashing down when they released it from the cockpit. Another large spectator fleet enjoyed today's close racing, including our five VIP boats: Rubicat (in the melee above, left), Alcor, Timeless, Thalia G, and... ...our marketing chase boat, the good ship Henri-Lloyd with Captain Mike Heffer in command. First mate today was Jane Eagleson (USA, press officer, in the middle waving). The series now stands tied at 2-2, as it was two other times before: 1920 and 1934. In the other close match, 1983, at this stage it was 3-1 Liberty. Aus II then tied it up at 3-3, before going on to win 4-3. Thursday is an off day, with racing now set to take place on at least Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If neither team wins the next three straight, which now seems unlikely, Monday will be another off day. Racing will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. And, hurray, we will have had racing for all eight days we have VIP guests here tat our base. Photos by Gilles Martin-Raget. Full Story »

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