Louis Vuitton Cup - Round Robin 2 - Day 4: Mascalzone Capitalia beat Desafío Español from the start

In the south race course most of the matches were thrilling and close but in the north course the match of the day was actually decided very early, even before the starting gun was fired. The match between Mascalzone Capitalia and Desafío Español was indeed one-sided, with the Italians in control throughout the whole race due to wrong tack by Karol Jablonski half a minute before the start.

The Spanish boat appeared to control the prestart but at half a minute from the start Desafío Español tacked towards the right in a turn to which the Italian team responded by pursuing the Spaniards and at the last moment forcing the Spanish boat to lose speed and pass the starting line behind their opponent.

As both Cameron Dunn, helmsman of Mascalzone Capitalia, and Luis Doreste, Desafío Español strategist, clearly stated, these boats are very similar in speed and under stable wind conditions, it is very difficult, if not impossible to pass the other boat after such a disadvantaged start.

The Spanish fought hard to regain some of the lost ground and despite a small snafu of the Italians with their spinnaker drop at the leeward gate, Mascalzone Capitalia crossed the finish line with a 35-second advantage.

Desafío Español hoisted a jib 10 minutes before the starting gun. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Only to lower it and hoist another one 2 minutes later. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Prestart of the race between Mascalzone Capitalia and Desafío Español. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The turning point of the prestart and the whole race. Desafío Español decide to tack towards the right. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

That gives Italians the opportunity to tack towards the pin end and accelerate. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español cross the start line 11 seconds behind Mascalzone Capitalia. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español and Mascalzone Capitalia approaching the leeward gate. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Desafío Español and Mascalzone Capitalia approaching the leeward gate. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Mascalzone Capitalia's spinnaker drop was quite sloppy. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

On the contrary, crew work aboard Desafío Español's ESP-97 was almost flawless. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It took Paolo Bottari an agonizing minute to put back the spinnaker pole into position at the start of the second upwind leg. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The Italians managed to increase their lead over Desafío Español in the final leg. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last gybe for Mascalzone Capitalia.... Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

... and two extremely valuable points in the pocket. Valencia, 2 May 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing