BMW Oracle runs into trouble

Our full reports and photos from today's two exciting races will be posted later tonight. In the meantime have a look at our pictures of the big problems USA-87 encountered at the leeward mark of the second race. They trailed their spinnaker in the water and had to cut it free and then had to dump the genoa in the water while trying to hoist a second one, in vain. The Challenger of record sailed the final upwind leg under mainsail only and finished 10th.

BMW Oracle runs into big problems at the leeward mark of the day's second race. Valencia, 6 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The first genoa is being cut and the second one just came out the boat's sewer. BMW Oracle's crew was unable to hoist a genoa during the race's last upwind leg. Valencia, 6 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing