Luna Rossa Versus Alinghi, Race Abandoned

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

NOVEMBER 1st, 2002

LUNA ROSSA VERSUS ALINGHI, RACE ABANDONED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WIND.

We are only a few days away from the conclusion of Round Robin Two. After their double victory of yesterday, Francesco de Angelis and his crew face today the Alinghi Swiss team, led by Russell Coutts in a rematch of the race postponed a few days ago due to technical failure on Luna Rossa. By midday the Race Committee is able to complete all 4 matches of flight 8.

At 13.30 the Committee announces a delay for the starts of the 3 matches scheduled in the afternoon, postponed from October 29, where Luna Rossa faces Alinghi. The delay is due to the strong breeze on the racing course. The match of Luna Rossa starts at 14:55, with a moderate 16 knots breeze. It's a very close start with the two boats on the line at the same time.

Rod Davis takes the weather berth while Russell Coutts is on the left to leeward. Across the line Luna Rossa tacks and Alinghi follows shortly after, ITA 74 leads by a few meters. The wind shifts slightly to the left favouring the Swiss. At the first windward mark Alinghi rounds with 14 seconds of advantage over Luna Rossa. Immediately after the top mark Luna Rossa gybes and heads for the right of the course, while Alinghi shreds the spinnaker. The Swiss, who cannot gybe at this stage, have quite a lot of trouble in taking down the top part of the exploded sail, which later drags in the water.

ITA 74 is thus able to close the gap and take the lead. The two boats are now sailing towards the bottom mark on opposite sides of the race course with a great lateral separation. Luna Rossa gybes in order to lay the mark and sails towards Alinghi. The two boats are now sailing one next to the other, with Alinghi in a controlling postion to leeward of Luna Rossa.

When the crew on Alinghi breaks the spinnaker pole and has trouble in keeping control of the sail, Luna Rossa decides to drop the spinnaker and turn around by tacking away in order to free herself from the controlling position of Alinghi and reach the mark in clear waters. Both crews seem to be struggling with their boat handling in the strong breeze, and the Swiss are able to ro und the bottom mark 10 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa.

The wind increases during the second beat and effectively blows above the 23 knot limit for over five minutes forcing the Race Committee to signal the abandonement of the race. The match between Alinghi and Luna Rossa will have to be resailed at a later date. Tomorrow Luna Rossa races against OneWorld in flight 9 of Round Robin Two.

TODAY'S RESULTS

FLIGHT 8 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Luna Rossa ITA 74
Match 1 Orm SWE 73 wins against Wight Lightning GBR 70 (1' 01" lead)
Match 2 Le Defi FRA 69 wins against OneWorld USA 67 (57" lead)
Match 3 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 wins against Alinghi SUI 64 (4" lead)
Match 4 Stars & Stripes USA 66 vince contro Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 (1' 09" lead) *

FLIGHT 4 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO, MATCHES POSTPONED ON OCTOBER 29
Match 1 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 wins against Stars & Stripes USA 66 (18" lead)
Match 2 Wight Lightning GBR 70 wins against Le Defi FRA 69 (14" lead)
Match 3 Alinghi SUI 64 against Luna Rossa ITA 74 (match abandoned due to high winds)

TODAY'S CREW ON LUNA ROSSA
1. Bowman, Paolo Bassani
2. Mid bowman, Alberto Barovier
3. Mastman, Simone de Mari
4. Pitman, Cristian Griggio
5. Left grinder, Massimo Galli
6. Right grinder, Romolo Ranieri
7. Upwind trimmer, Lorenzo Mazza
8. Downwind trimmer, Andrew Hemmings
9. Mainsail trimmer, Sean Clarkson
10. Center grinder, Massimo Gherarducci
11. Helmsman, Francesco de Angelis
12. Tactician, Torben Grael
13. Afterguard, Rod Davis
14. Downwind grinder, Daniele Bresciano
15. Strategist, Michele Ivaldi
16. Navigator, Matteo Plazzi

RACE COURSE
Windward leeward course of 12.5 miles, four legs total, two windward legs and two downwind legs; first and last legs are 3.25 miles, the remaining two are 3.00 miles.

WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY
Wind from NW 10 increasing to 17-20 knots. Mostly cloudy with a chance of a few showers late in the day.

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS AT THE END OF TODAY'S RACING
12 pts. Alinghi Swiss Challenge (12 wins out of 14 races)
11 pts. OneWorld Challenge (11 wins out of 14 races) *
10 pts. Prada Challenge (10 wins out of 14 races)
9 pts. Oracle BMW Racing (9 wins out of 13 races)
7 pts. Victory Challenge (7 wins out of 14 races)
7 pts. GBR Challenge (7 wins out of 15 races)
6 pts. Team Dennis Conner (6 wins out of 15 races)
1 pt. Le Defi Areva (1 win out of 14 races)
1 pt. Mascalzone Latino (1 win out of 15 races)
* OneWorld will be penalised one point at the end of Round Robin Two.

CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW - NOVEMBER 2

FLIGHT 9 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Stars & Stripes USA 66
Match 1 Le Defi FRA 69 versus Mascalzone Latino ITA 72
Match 2 OneWorld USA 67 versus Luna Rossa ITA 74
Match 3 Orm SWE 73 versus Alinghi SUI 64
Match 4 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 versus Wight Lightning GBR 70

FLIGHT 5 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO, MATCH 2 AND 3 ABANDONED ON OCTOBER 30 AND
RE-SAIL OF MATCH 4
Match 2 Orm SWE 73 versus Oracle BMW Racing USA 76
Match 3 OneWorld USA 67 versus Stars & Stripes USA 66
Match 4 Wight Lightning GBR 70 versus Alinghi SUI 64 (re-sail of match ordered by the International Jury after GBR Challenge's protest against the Race Committee after race of October 30)

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW
Wind from WSW 15-25 knots. Cloudy with showers.

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