LVF07_0602_Start
VALENCIA, Spain-The only thing that appeared to stand between Luna Rossa Challenge and a victory in Race 1 was the first shift-and it wasn’t a big one at that. In Race 2, the list was significantly longer. One day after the two boats were separated by just 8 seconds crossing the line, Emirates Team New Zealand demolished the Italian team for a wire-to-wire 40-second win that rarely even seemed that close.There wasn’t a major facet of America’s Cup sailing that seemed to favor Luna Rossa in Race 2. They were behind off the start, didn’t get the shift they were looking for on the right side and then were helpless to do anything as Emirates Team New Zealand slowly pulled away with faster tacks, slicker jibes, and flawless tactical calls.It wasn’t a good day for the team, said Luna Rossa trimmer Joe Newton in the post race press conference, but they’re far from out of this contest.Match NotesThe race started in seemingly similar conditions to yestereday, however, the sea breeze seemed more normal, there were very few clouds and it was mostly clear over land. The breeze faded a little bit in the last hour before the start, from a high of 15 or 16 knots down to 12 to 14. But in general the wind appeared to be steadier than yesterday, both in terms of velocity and direction.Luna Rossa entered at the pin, with Emirates Team New Zealand entering on starboard. Boat boats were a touch late, with ETNZ entering ahead of LR by a few seconds. James Spithill was happy to roll right into a dial-up. Dean Barker obliged but didn’t stay long, peeling away on port tack after a few seconds. The start was relatively tame. There was some lazy circling, but neither team seemingly interested in taking any kind of risk. As the time ticked toward 1 minutes, LR made an aggressive move to get to the right of ENTZ, and Dean Barker didn’t seemed to fight him for it. It was as if Luna Rossa was determined to get the right and Barker was happy to give them that in exchange for a slightly better start. ETNZ strategist Ray Davies says that Barker was free to pick which side he felt best with during the prestart.So ENTZ started mid-line, with LR tucked nicely on its hip and about half-boatlength back. LR rolled right into a tack, probably before they were up to speed. ETNZ followed suit soon after. Luna Rossa navigator Michele Ivaldi explains that the time got the start it wanted, but not the right shift it was expecting in this this audio clip.ENTZ started the long port-tack drag race with a 30-meter lead, according to Live Sailing. By the time LR decided to tack and work to avoid the starboard tack layline, the lead was 45 to 50 meters. Newton says that there’s little, if any, speed differential between the two boats.After an extended tacking duel it was up to 75 meters. The two boats never reached the starboard-tack layline, ETNZ breaking off the duel to speed toward the port-tack layline, LR tucked safely on its windward hip, maybe 5 boatlengths back. The advantage line on Live Sailing was now 100 meters.The delta at the first mark was 25 seconds. LR was active on the run, jibing often. But the net result was a larger lead for ETNZ, 35 seconds. On the second beat, after matching LR for the first half of it, ETNZ tactician Terry Hutchinson appeared to take a page out of Torben Grael’s book, giving the Italian team some breathing room (first to the left, then to the right) if he felt he could take advantage of the separation. It’s a dangerous game to play with Torben Grael, but perhaps is indicative of the confidence with which Hutchinson, Ray Davies and Adam Beashel were reading the course. The delta at the second windward mark was 39 seconds, a gain of four seconds to ETNZ from the leeward gate. ETNZ’s Adam Beashel explains why they let Luna Rossa get a little breathing room in this audio clip.On the final run, there was little LR could do. Again Grael and Spithill were active, jibing often to stay out of phase with ENTZ, but the net result, a 1-second gain to ETNZ. Ivaldi says it wasn’t a to be too disappointed with losing, there was little opportunity to pass after the start.Emirates Team New Zealand def. Luna Rossa Challenge by 40 seconds.Emirates Team New Zealand leads the bets-of-9 series 2-0.
