Stable But Light Conditions Indicate Form: Louis Vuitton Race Reports Follow

RR1 - Race 3 Man Up Mast on Stars & Stripes

Stable but light conditions prevailed for the second day of racing with sunny conditions and wind from the northeast at five to eight knots. The light air boats began to show their form.

There were two unrelated red flag incidents as the tempo of competition intensified. Both protests were later withdrawn.

In one Japan’s Peter Gilmour (Nippon) protested Paul Cayard’s (AmericaOne) refusal to accept a penalty following a race re-start. In the other Australia’s James Spithill (Young Australia 2000) protested Italy’s (Prada)actions in keeping a crew member aloft to watch for wind.

Race 4
Abracadabra 2000 Beats Young Australia - Delta 01:54

Kolius won the start in a stronger windward position, and both boats raced out to the left side of the course. The boats had a short tacking duel approaching the first mark, putting in a dozen tacks before rounding.

The Hawaiians didn’t do anything dramatic to get their lead…they just sailed a little faster, and could point a little better.

Abracadabra added to its lead on all but the final leg, and finished comfortably ahead of Young Australia by 1:54.

Young America Beat FAST 2000 - Delta 05:50

FAST 2000 was never in this race, trailing at every point by increasing margins.

Young America won the start, and pressed their advantage through superior boat speed. The Americans pushed the Swiss out at the start.

The Americans applied a loose cover the rest of the way, knowing they had better speed, and that they could only lose on a dramatic wind shift.

AmericaOne Beat Nippon - Delta 02:26

An intitial start led to a dial-up. In trying to avoid the starboard tack boat, Nippon came close to knocking its stern against the topsides of AmericaOne.

The umpires made their second call of the day, resulting in a penalty against AmericaOne.

Right before the start, Cayard called for a postponment.
A delay of some 30 minutes ensued. The Jury asked Cayard whether he would take a penalty for the second start. Cayard declined.

The Nippon syndicate chose to take the second start flying the red protest flag

The next start was almost as aggressive. This time Nippon bore away sharply underneath the oncoming starboard tack bow of AmericaOne.

The stern and bow came within inches of each other again. Another green flag.

Eventually Nippon, to weather, led off the start line, with both boats on starboard. After minutes of straight line speed sailing, the advantage seemed to move to AmericaOne and Nippon tacked to the right.

AmericaOne drew ahead and rounded the first mark with a 1:07 second lead. It continued to slowly pull out more and more time. Gilmour later withdrew the protest.

RR1 - Race 4 - Crew Up the Mast

Prada Beat Stars & Stripes - Delta 05:04
De Angelis won the start with both boats on starboard. Luna Rossa started to leeward of Stars and Stripes.

Just short after the start Stars & Stripes looked good and gained on a short right hand lift which gradually went left. Luna Rossa gained control on the first wind shift and steadily pulled away.

America True Beat 6e Sens – Delta 00:54
Both boats were above the start line at the gun. America True bore off on starboard and dipped the line at the pin end. The French boat bore off on port and dipped at the committee end.

RR1 - Race 4 - Le Defi Bouygues Telecom – Transiciel
America True won the start by 11 seconds. On the first cross, America True on port tack crossed the French by about two boat lengths.

Wind at start was about 4-5 knots at 005 degrees. At the weather mark, America True led by 57 seconds. The French boat picked up speed a little as the wind increased but could never catch her opponent.

Race 3
Abracadabra 2000 Beat Stars & Stripes. Delta 03:50
Abracadabra started on starboard a couple of lengths to weather of Stars & Stripes, winning the right hand side of the course in the process.

Kolius tacked to the right almost straight away followed 30 seconds later by Stars & Stripes.

A long drag out to the right saw the boat from Hawaii demonstrate superior speed and pull ahead to safely cross ahead.

The first mark rounding went to Abracadabra by one minute and 10 seconds. In a slow race the two boats sailed relatively separate races, Kolius’ crew always managing to get the correct side of the course to open up a large lead at the finish.

America One Beat Be Happy. Delta 14:01
America One led the Swiss boat away from the start line with a two length advantage. The Swiss boat, struggled to find the speed of the American boat, rounding two minutes and 30 seconds behind.

The pattern was set and the Swiss boat continued to lose time to Paul Cayard’s syndicate finally finishing behind Abracadabra and Stars & Stripes, the pair that started 10 minutes behind them.

Spanish Challenge Beat Le Defi, Delta 00:55
An outstanding morning for the Spanish team!!!

Spain trailed Le Defi for most of the race, but make up time on the final leg to win by 0:55.

The boats split the start, but came together to sail up the right side of the course. Le Defi built her lead when Spain sailed back to the middle, and the French held the right side to lead by 0:42 at the top mark.

They added to that over the next two legs, to lead by 2:15 at the 2nd windward mark.

But Spain sailed faster, and picked up a favourable shift for a huge comeback win.

Le Defi didn’t cover downwind, and it cost them the race.

Prada Beat Young Australia 2000. Delta 14:43
In the fourth match of the third race the undefeated Italians were up against the young challengers from Australia.

Young Australia 2000 was chased by the Italians in the pre start period.

Luna Rossa won the start and was to windward. They tacked straight after the start to the right.

Torben Grael, the tactician for Prada favoured that side most of the race. After getting some lateral distance on the James Spithill and his crew Luna Rossa tacked back to Starboard to cover.

With a lot more speed and better pointing ability the Italians went around the top mark first (delta 03:50). Simply covering the Australians loosely.

The lead extended for the Prada Challenge during the race. Sometimes Young Australia 2000 (YA2K) gained a little when the Italians sailed in a hole.

During the whole race there was a man in the mast of Luna Rossa. The Australians lodged protest. Most likely concerning the man up the mast.

RR1 - Race 3 - Young America - Young America Beat Nippon, Delta 01:32
Young America fouled Asura in a starting line incident as Asura forced the American boat above the line.

Peter Gilmour won the start by 23 seconds and led until they approached the end of the first spinnaker run.

Young America had been gaining and rolled over Asura as the Japanese boat fumbled a gybe.

From there, Young America sailed away, completing a 270 degree penalty turn for a Rule 16 Penalty

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