Oneworld Gains Over Luna Rossa

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

NOVEMBER 2, 2002

ONEWORLD GAINS OVER LUNA ROSSA

Today is the ninth and last flight of the second Round Robin of the 2002-2003 Louis Vuitton Cup. In the afternoon some teams sail their matches that had previously been postponed or abandoned because of bad weather or technical breakdowns. After yesterday's race with Alinghi abandoned for excessive wind, today Luna Rossa faces OneWorld.

The match starts at 11:10. Luna Rossa, with Rod Davis at the helm, takes the right and starts to windward of OneWorld. There are about 15 knots of breeze. The right looks favourite and Francesco tacks towards that side of the course. He then tacks back and the two boats sail for a long while on parallel tacks, with ITA 74 to windward of USA 67. Another tack and the Americans stretch on ITA 74, who has no other tactical option that to head to the port lay-line.

The wind shifts to the right favouring USA 67, who rounds the mark 22 seconds ahead of the Italians. During the first spinnaker run Luna Rossa gybes to keep in the centre of the course, while OneWorld sails to the left. OneWorld defends her lead and at the bottom mark is still ahead by 21 seconds.

Luna Rossa runs into a problem hoisting her genoa at the mark and loses many precious seconds sailing the first few metres of the last beat with no jib. The wind is quite shifty and oscillates between 15 and 17 knots. Francesco de Angelis and his crew try to gain on their opponent by sailing into the frequent wind shifts, but OneWorld controls every move of the Italians.

USA 66 further consolidates her lead and rounds the last mark 1 minute and 11 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa. During the last spinnaker run Luna Rossa heads to the right of the course, while USA 67 keeps to the left. Francesco de Angelis is able to gain 17 seconds on USA 67 and finishes the race 54 seconds behind OneWorld.

For Luna Rossa the day's racing is over. In the afternoon there are only two scheduled matches for other teams. We will later send the results and the complete racing schedule for tomorrow.

Weather conditions permitting, Round Robin Two will end tomorrow for all the challengers. The top eight teams will proceed to the quarterfinals. Only the Italians of Mascalzone Latino completed all their races today. Tomorrow Luna Rossa will face Alinghi.

RESULTS FROM THIS MORNING

FLIGHT 9 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - Off Stars & Stripes USA 66
Match 1 Le Defi FRA 69 wins against Mascalzone Latino ITA 72 (1' 10" lead)
Match 2 OneWorld USA 67 wins against Luna Rossa ITA 74 (54" lead)
Match 3 Alinghi SUI 64 wins against Orm SWE 73 (29" lead)
Match 4 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 wins against Wight Lightning GBR 70 (2' lead)

TODAY'S CREW ON LUNA ROSSA
1. Bowman, Paolo Bassani
2. Mid bowman, Massimiliano Sirena
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, Piero Romeo
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 W 10 increasing to 18-21 knots, gusts near 25 knots in the afternoon. Mainly sunny in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy with showers from late morning.

CURRENT OVERALL STANDINGS
12 pts. Alinghi Swiss Challenge (12 wins out of 14 races)
12 pts. OneWorld Challenge (12 wins out of 15 races) *
10 pts. Prada Challenge (10 wins out of 15 races)
10 pts. Oracle BMW Racing (10 wins out of 14 races)
7 pts. Victory Challenge (7 wins out of 15 races)
7 pts. GBR Challenge (7 wins out of 15 races)
6 pts. Team Dennis Conner (6 wins out of 15 races)
2 pts. Le Defi Areva (2 wins out of 15 races)
1 pt. Mascalzone Latino (1 win out of 15 races)
* OneWorld will be penalised one point at the end of Round Robin Two.

RACING CALENDAR FOR THE AFTERNOON

FLIGHT 5 OF ROUND ROBIN TWO - MATCHES 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 postponed to tomorrow due to technical failure on 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)

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