America's Cup Match - Day 4: Alinghi win tight race and relaunch the Match

Finally Alinghi did it in the 4th race of the America's Cup Match and won it. They followed the basic match racing rules and scored an important victory, tying the series to 2 wins for each team and relaunching the game.

Although Wednesday looked like it was going to turn out like Tuesday, it didn't. The weather seemed to be very similar, with cloudy skies and lumpy seas. There was a main difference though, winds were much stabler and a little bit stronger. There was no reason to delay the start and at 2:50pm the race committee gave the preparatory signal with prevailing wind speed around 10 knots and direction 75 degrees.

For the 4th time, the prestart was quite tame and uneventful. None of the two helmsmen went into aggressive maneuvers. Emirates Team NZ wanted the left and the start was even with SUI-100 to windward, NZL-92 to leeward in a drag race on starboard all the way to the left layline. Alinghi found a small right shift, gained more speed and built a small lead, just short of two boatlengths. Alinghi tacked first when the boats reached the layline and stayed in front till the topm ark, rounding it 20 seconds ahead of Emirates Team NZ.

From there on, Alinghi played by the match race textbook. They covered their opponent but the New Zealanders managed to make some gains that they later lost in an "hourglass" wrap. At the approach to the leeward gate, Alinghi got into a delicate situation with their sails. The jib and spinnaker collapsed and the yacht stalled, rounding the right gate at very low speed. Still, they rounded 34 seconds ahead of Emirates Team NZ that opted for the left gate.

The second half of the race was uneventful. The New Zealanders were constantly trying to tack or gybe their way to victory but Alinghi made sure they had no passing lanes. It is significant to notice that Emirates Team NZ were able to decrease Alinghi's advantage by only 4 seconds throughout the whole rest of the race. Alinghi crossed the finish line 30 second ahead of the kiwis and tied the series 2-2.

Alinghi's SUI-100 in the prestart of the 4th race of the 32nd America's Cup Match. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Prestart of the 4th race of the 32nd America's Cup Match. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The start was quite even. Alinghi had a 1-second advantage and both boats went to the left side of the course. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Both boats engaged in a very long straight-line port tack all the way to the left layline. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

At the beginning of the first run Emirates Team NZ suffered from an "hourglass" wrap during a gybe and lost ground. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi's sails collapse at the leeward gate. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

SUI-100 almost came to a standstill at the leeward gate. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi rounded the leeward gate 34 seconds ahead of Emirates Team NZ. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

In the second beat, Alinghi opted for the right side of the course. Valencia, 27 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing