What did we learn on day 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin?
by Mark Jardine 2 Sep 02:46 NZST
1 September 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand vs. New York Yacht Club American Magic on Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin 1 Day 4 © Ian Roman / AmericasCup
With 10-13 knots from a far more left wind direction, we were all set for a superb day of racing in Barcelona.
A significant seaway, combined with a phasing wind, also made things interesting and tricky for the crews.
Broadcast
- A new 'Live Wind' box appeared at the bottom right briefly, but didn't stay for long enough, and didn't have the direction. Surely it's possible to display an arrow and number on the water with all the technology they have available? After all, they manage to super-impose the sponsor logos on the course.
- Occasionally we saw the True Wind Speed at the top of the rigs, which was incredibly useful and would be great to see more.
- The VMG was shown more often, which is so useful on these boats. I'd still like to see this more.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
The Swiss team had problems with their mainsail hoist, when the bolt rope came out of the track, resulting in them being late sailing into the race area. As Alinghi Red Bull Racing was over 100 metres from the boundary at two minutes to go the start, they were disqualified.
This didn't stop them lining up with the Kiwis on the start to get some practice, and the America's Cup Defender was happy to oblige.
The New Zealand team were significantly quicker around the course, but the Swiss will be buoyed by the face that they weren't massively left behind. The Kiwis will have appreciated the time on the racecourse after their repair following the crane incident and certainly weren't holding back.
Both boats peeled off the course on the second downwind leg.
INEOS Britannia vs. Orient Express Racing Team
In a tight start, where both teams were slightly early on their final approach, INEOS Britannia were 14 cm over the line and were penalised 75 metres relative to Orient Express.
The French team kept a good cover on the Brits, but the deficit was only 13 seconds at the windward mark.
Downwind INEOS Britannia slowly reeled in Orient Express, reducing the deficit to just 15 metres by the second gybe. When the two boats split, INEOS Britannia caught Orient Express port-starboard on the final approach to the first leeward gate, with the Brits rounding 3 seconds ahead.
Upwind the French made a gain on the right, with the British team ducking them on port to get across to the right themselves. On the next cross the French were forced to duck the Brits.
At the next cross INEOS Britannia tacked on top of Orient Express, but it was judged too close, and the British team were penalised 75 metres again, handing the French the lead at the second windward gate.
Going into the final lap the French held a 12 second lead, with the British team heading out to the right first and closing up to just 10 metres as Orient Express tacked beneath them. In a straight drag race, INEOS Britannia took the lead and rounded the final top gate 11 seconds in the lead, extending that to 16 seconds at the finish.
British coach Robbie Wilson said about the race, "It's tighter than we'd have liked, but it's good to get close, for sure."
On the boatspeed Ben said, "We're getting there."
By no means perfect sailing by either team, but a great race to watch.
Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs. Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
The Swiss team approached from high on the start, coming in right on the committee boat end (if there was one), but the Italians used a high mode to force Alinghi to tack away after a minute of racing. As Luna Rossa came across on port, they passed Alinghi by a boat length, reaching the top gate just 4 seconds ahead, extending to 11 second by the first leeward gate.
One of Luna Rossa's great strengths is their manoeuvres, and in some of their tacks they were hardly dropping speed, which can extend out 50 metres on an opponent in one move. This helped them extend their lead to 28 seconds at the second windward gate.
Alinghi though weren't done yet and closed back up to under 200 metres behind Luna Rossa on the final upwind leg and rounded the final windward gate just 16 seconds behind.
Another win for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, keeping up their unbeaten run in the Louis Vuitton Cup.
The Swiss showed good speed today, but with no points on the board is it too late?
Emirates Team New Zealand vs. New York Yacht Club American Magic
American Magic won the pin on the start with Emirates Team New Zealand tacking away early and starting on port.
On the first upwind leg the Kiwis sailed the right while the US team sailed the left, and when they re-engaged, the Kiwis tacked underneath American Magic, who rolled over them and led into the first windward gate by 10 seconds.
American Magic seemed unconcerned about covering the Kiwis on the second upwind leg, which proved an error as Emirates Team New Zealand continually closed the gap to the US team, judging the windshifts better. By the second windward gate they were only 5 seconds ahead.
The Kiwis continued to stay in phase with the shifts downwind, forcing the Americans to duck their stern on a cross, then finding a low mode down to the gate to round ahead of American Magic.
New Zealand coach Ray Davies was impressed with the way his team were sailing, "They've got really good composure, keeping it really cool."
American Magic tried all they could on the final upwind leg but, despite excellent speed, and a number of manoeuvres which will have pushed their recumbent cyclors to the limit, they couldn't overtake the America's Cup Defenders who won by 29 seconds.
It may not have been for Louis Vuitton Cup points, but they both gave it their all and provided us with another cracking race.
American Magic port side helmsman Paul Goodison was philosophical about the defeat "We just need to narrow the mistakes and keep improving."
Overall, a superb day of racing.