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Match 5 Review: Don't Break

Posted 1 year, 3 months ago

Match 5 Review: Don't Break
Fast boats, well sailed, that don't break. ETNZ had the first two right, especially the brilliant and unorthodox pre-start that had Alinghi on the ropes for the entire five minutes. And the Kiwis showed surprisingly good speed upwind and down in what was supposed to be Alinghi's conditions. Too bad about breaking the kite on Leg 2. They were just about ready to peel to a replacement when the orig let go. Lucky the bowman out on the end of the spi pole was able to hang on. He almost went for a swim, which from that position could have been under the boat. Nice recovery though, and good effort to get back in the race. Superb job by Alingihi keeping it close up the first leg and the pressure on, and applying a loose and effective cover (after they surged past the crippled crew of ETNZ) to maintain a four boatlenghth lead and, ultimately, win. It's about what we projected for today, aside from the broken kite. Tomorrow is another breezy day, and accordingly this begins to look more and more like Alinghi's series. But the plucky Kiwis showed today that they are up to the task in any conditions. We note that the written jury decision was finally issued while we were afloat this afternoon, and it is available here. Perhaps the paragraphs of most interest: [24] Don Martin gave evidence that he is a member of the Measurement Committee and went aboard the Alinghi yacht SUI 100 shortly after Race 4 had been completed to conduct post race checks. He stated that following a request by Alinghi he specifically agreed that for safety reasons a member of the Alinghi crew be sent up the mast to fit a halyard to the mainsail prior to the release mechanism being tripped. When the procedure as carried out on the yacht he was satisfied at that time that the procedure complied with ACC Rule 31.6. When he subsequently saw the video of the incident when he came ashore, he was no longer sure that what occurred complied with ACC Rule 31.6. Don Martin stated that the Measurement Committee had not subsequently filed a report with the Race Committee and that the Race Committee had not protested the boat in terms of RRS Rule 78.3. [25] Don Martin stated that after viewing the video, he wondered whether the movement of the right foot of the crew member aloft and his gripping of the top of the sail shortly before the release of the mainsail affected its release. He was concerned that from the time the signal was given to release the mainsail it took approximately 15 seconds for the release to occur. He stated that the release of the lock at the head of the mainsail and the kicking of the mainsail occurred virtually simultaneously. Your Ed. is not sure what else to say about today's machinations, except, perhaps, "Oops." Full Story »

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