The Mighty fall: America's Cup Newsletter
Editorial: The Mighty fall
Welcome to
Sail-World.Com’s America’s Cup newsletter for Day 9,
Raceday 3 of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup.
After a week of indifference due to the fickle Valencian weather, amore robust breeze arrived today and we saw the first of what the Louis Vuitton Cup can deliver and the potential that is on offer from the Class of 2007.
It was a day of surprises and close racing.
The big surprise was that Luna Rossa, widely considered to be one of the Big Three by most pundits, and a certainty for the Semi-Finals, emerged from the day with two losses.
BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand, who make up the fancied Big Three, came out of the day with two wins apiece. But both had one that was comfortable and one that was close.
The day’s racing underlined the fact that this group of challengers, in lighter airs at least, is much closer than most would have predicted and that an upset is possible at any stage of the game. Sailing skill is much more of a premium at this regatta than design technology, and the Big Three are putting their reputations on the line in most matches.
BMW Oracle Racing emerged on top after the first of the so-called "Top of the table" clashes on Day 9, Raceday 3, of the Louis Vuitton Cup BMW Oracle Racing © Photo - Gilles Martin-Raget
Team Shosholoza is a case in point,
having a reasonably comfortable win over Luna Rossa (even
more so than the Mascalzone Latino win over Emirates team NZ
in the opening flight). But then when Luna Rossa pitched up
against BMW Oracle Racing in the second match of the day, it
was a very close run thing with the sole challenger from the
USA having to fight for every inch of advantage.
On the points table the Big Three take the top places, largely by virtues of their performances before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, than because of it. Below them, the expected log-jam of suitors for the fourth place, and maybe third place in the Semi-Finals, has gathered. From here on, we can only expect more upsets.
Sorry there is no report from Bob Fisher today. We contacted him by phone in Valencia, miles away from the Media Centre, it had been sent but not received by our deadline. We’ll post it on www.sail-world.com as soon as it arrives and will include it in tomorrow’s newsletter.
Weather fore the next few days is predicted to be more of the same – with possibly stronger winds. We can look forward to some more great racing and get closer to being on track with the racing program.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ
Editor
By nzeditor@sail-world.com
BMW ORACLE Racing
wins cliffhanger match
By Jane Eagleson, BMW Oracle
Racing,
The opening round of the Louis Vuitton Cup was
set alight today with a classic match race battle between
two of the so-called Big Guns going all the way to the wire.
BMW ORACLE Racing led the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge in a
heart-stopping race all the way round the track to win by 6
seconds... [more]
The breeze picks up – and NZL 92
picks up two wins
By Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ
Media,
The sea breeze returned to Valencia today and NZL
92 welcomed it with two good wins, against France and Spain.
The breeze may have returned but it was still light and it
was still shifty but it was stable enough for some good
racing.... [more]
Quotes of the Day: Day 9, Flights 4
and 5
By America's Cup Media,
Brad Webb, Bowman, BMW
ORACLE Racing, on their close match against Luna Rossa: 'A
boat length in this game can seem like a hundred miles at
times, but it can also feel like a few inches. Today it was
the latter.'... [more]
Surprise win for Desafío
Español 2007
By Desafío Español 2007 media,
Desafío Español 2007 wins over Mascalzone Latino but
falls to Emirates Team New Zealand. Desafío Español 2007
closely marked their opponent, the Italian team Mascalzone
Latino, looking for an advantageous position for themselves.
Shortly into the race both boats drew alongside and then
began a war of turns along the right hand side of the
course.... [more]
Shosholoza surprises Luna Rossa, USA
undefeated
By America's Cup Media,
Sea breeze
conditions returned to Valencia on Tuesday allowing two full
flights of races to be completed at the Louis Vuitton Cup.
There was plenty of action on the race course where the
South African Team Shosholoza earned an impressive victory
over Luna Rossa Challenge. The Italian Luna Rossa team began
the day undefeated, but eventually lost both races on the
day, dropping their second match of the afternoon to BMW
ORACLE Racing.... [more]
German Team climbs to rank
nine after 1-1 day
By Oliver Laskowsky, United Internet
Team Germany,
The United Internet Team Germany has ended
day three of the Louis Vuitton Cup with one win and one
defeat. After a historic victory in the first match race of
the day against China Team the German team succumbed to the
Swedish Victory Challenge. Because of the two points earned
in the race against China Team the German team has now
advanced to rank nine of the overall ranking of the Louis
Vuitton Cup.... [more]
Two losses for Luna Rossa to
RSA and BMW Oracle
By Luna Rossa Media,
The fourth
and fifth flight of the eliminatory Louis Vuitton Round
Robin 1 took place today in Valencia....
[more]
Surprises but Victory Challenge down to BMW
Oracle
By Bert Willborg,
Desafío Español wins over
unbeaten Mascalzone Latino and Team Shosholoza wins over
unbeaten Luna Rossa Challenge. Victory Challenge loses
against BMW Oracle Racing...
[more]
ends