Louis Vuitton Cup - Round Robin 1 - Day 12: Lack of wind cancels most races, Shosholoza win dramatic race against Areva Challenge

Unfortunately, once again the weather was not on our side, especially in the south race area. All races were cancelled there after two failed attempts by the race committee to start them. Not only that, the "south" race area migrated twice, first far north, very close to the north area and then back south. Luna Rossa and Mascalzone Capitalia entered twice the prestart period but in both cases the committee postponed the race 4 minutes before start. The breeze never filled nor settled.

Races in the north race area took place but under very light and shifty conditions. The Italian team +39 Challenge scored their first victory in this round robin, against United Internet Team Germany but what turned out to be the match of the day was Shosholoza's dramatic victory over Areva Challenge.

The South Africans found themselves helplessly stalled in a no wind situation in the prestart and crossed the starting line a full 31 seconds after the French. Despite this initial disadvantage, Shosholoza, slowly but steadily, kept closing in on Areva Challenge and reached them when Paolo Cian put in an aggressive luff that successively put a penalty on the French. From that point Shosholoza kept the leadership, rounding the top mark 30 seconds ahead of Areva Challenge. While approaching the leeward gate, Shosholoza shredded their spinnaker but by the time they hoisted another one, the French passed them and rounded the leeward gate 25 seconds ahead of them.

Nevertheless, in the last downwind leg Shosholoza closed most of the gap and when the French decided to offload their penalty on the pin end of the finish line, they rounded the buoy so close that the umpires gave them another penalty claiming the French mast did not entirely cross the line. As a result, the judges gave the victory to Shosholoza

Luna Rossa and Mascalzone Capitalia enter the start box, only to see the race postponed a couple of minutes later. Valencia, 27 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Capitalia's mainsail seemed to have a problem. Could it have been their lucky day to have races cancelled?. Valencia, 27 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Capitalia's mainsail seemed to have a problem. Could it have been their lucky day to have races cancelled?. Valencia, 27 April 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing