Alinghi wins first match of Challenger Final in a sensation

6:41 AM Wed 11 Feb 2009 GMT
Alinghi has staged a sensational come from behind win in the first Challenger Final.

Although BMW Oracle Racing led throughout the race, a huge bias on the finishing line favoured Alinghi.

The bias was calculated to be around 65 metres about the margin enjoyed by BMW Oracle Racing, who elected to sail for the pin end of the line - the most distant end.

The bias was caused by a wind shift which was left for the shift on the second beat, and the finish line angle was correct for this direction, however after rounding the windward mark, the wind swung back to the right meaning that the bias of the line was not square to the new breeze.

The bias on the finish line was apparently not spotted by the BMW Oracle Racing crew who may have expected the line to be laid square to the new breeze, and they sailed to the most distant end.

The margin in favour of Alinghi was less than a second.

the Challenger Final has been shortened to a best of three series, and Alinghi only needs to win one more race, meaning that at least one race and maybe two will have to be sailed tomorrow, Thursday, before the Finals on Friday and Saturday.

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com

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