 |
11:38 AM Sun 1 Feb 2009 GMT
Today, China Team met BMW Oracle on the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand, in their Round 3 match of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.
These two teams last met during the Louis Vuitton Cup in Valencia in 2007 when China Team made it onto the scoreboard with a win over BMW Oracle. Both teams are now under new skippers and just as importantly today they raced in more evenly matched boats than before.
China Team, skippered by Ian Williams and BMW Oracle under the helm of Russell Coutts entered the start box at the 5 minute gun but almost from the outset BMW Oracle had an edge in the prestart. In the dialup with China Team looking like they were going for a gybe, BMW Oracle called early for room and gained the penalty call against China Team; decided by the on-water judges and announced by the raising of a blue flag at the back of the umpire boat.
With the start gun gone, BMW Oracles peeled off the right hand side of the track but came back in to an early cross with China Team. China Team managed to stay close to BMW Oracle through the first beat, matching tack for tack, and both rounded the top mark with a bear away set. BMW Oracle gybed almost immediately. China Team, hot on their heels laid the line comfortably and secured a clean spinnaker hoist.
Determined to remain in the hunt, China Team made great gains on the run, keeping closer in to North Head taking advantage of the tide and working the puffs. China Team was able to close the gap to only 10 seconds.
The race continued in that vein with China staying close to the Americans and trying to force an error. Sadly the luck went the other way with the China Team spinnaker exploding two minutes from the finish line with China only 2 boat lengths behind BMW Oracle, but with the penalty 360 still to do.
Back on shore Williams, who is the current world match racing champion said 'Russell [Coutts] has probably over 2000 hours on an America's Cup boat. I'm now pushing 20 hours. It was very encouraging for us to be that close.'
Team Principal Ian Stewart was on the back of the boat as the 18th man for the race and had this to say: ' It is really great to see the improvements in boat handling each race and the way the team is coming together after only a week on the boats together. Unfortunately, the competition has also gotten tougher each day. But this all augurs well for future races in this regatta and for future events.'
Times:
Mark 1: 24 seconds
Mark 2: 16 Seconds
Mark 3: 18 seconds
Finish: 1 .28
by Jenny Cooper
|
|
