Louis Vuitton Act 12 - Day 2 - Flight 4

Desafío Español 2007 - BMW Oracle: 0 - 1

The day's second important race for the Spanish America's Cup challenger was not easy either. Facing BMW Oracle, the American powerhouse and their equally powerful USA-87, the Spanish did not have any illusions, as Luis Doreste, sports director, stated and both big races were used as a test for ESP-88.

BMW Oracle got off to an early lead but the Spanish managed to close the gap and a few boatlengths before the first windward mark luffed the Americans and got them a penalty. The key to the race was probably at that point. According to Doreste and Bertrand Pacé, tactician aboard BMW Oracle, at that precise point the penalty probably was more beneficial to BMW Oracle than the Spanish. Both agreed on their remark that the Spanish boat still has problems and is much slower downwind, unlike the American rocket. From that point Chris Dickson steered USA-87 to a comfortbale lead over the Spanish that allowed them to offload the penalty and still win the race 1:12 minutes ahead.

Luis Doreste admitted the boat needed more work and testing but that was the main reason they decided to take the risk and race with it. Otherwise they would have had to wait for almost a year before testing in official regattas it against Alinghi or the new boats of the rest of the Big Three challengers (BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa and Emirates Team). His view is that ESP-88 has now reached "65% to 70%" of its potential.

Areva - United Internet Team Germany: 1 - 0

As we wrote in our day's preview, this could have been the second roller coaster race of the day, with two similar teams fighting to earn their first point in this Louis Vuitton Act 12. Unfortunately for the first ever America's Cup challenger from Germany, it turned to be yet another disapppointing performance. Despite the good prestart procedure by Jesper Bank and a very close race at the first half of the first leg, with the two boats racing neck and neck, the French team with Thierry Peponnet at the helm managed to gain almost 25 seconds in each leg and crossed the finish line 1:28 ahead of the Germans.