America's Cup Match - Day 5: Alinghi score important win after Emirates Team NZ spinnaker problem

What a day!! If the 3rd race of this America's Cup Match was probably the most spectacular one ever in the history of the event, today we probably witnessed the second best. We had all we could have asked for; excellent weather (wind speed from 14 up to even 20 knots), an aggressive prestart, close racing, incidents and breakages (lots of them) as well as changes in the lead.

This Friday, the promised Valencian wind conditions made their grand appearance off the Malvarosa coast. As we had said in our morning preview, we had a double whammy, the sea breeze joining forces with a southeasterly gradient wind. When the race committee sounded the preparatory signal, wind speed was 14 knots and direction 125 degrees (right on spot with our forecast).

Since the breeze was significantly steady and shifts were very small, the two teams were not looking for a particular side on the starting line. Instead they focused on getting in front at full speed and as a result the prestart procedure was much more aggressive, particularly the one carried out by Dean Barker. Four minutes before the start, he pushed Ed Baird towards the spectator fleet and after rounding the media boat, NZL-92 came out in a dominating position. They powered ahead to the starting line at full speed while Alinghi had to tack in front of the committee boat, starting 5 seconds late.

A long drag race to the right layline took place and although everyone was expecting Alinghi's SUI-100 to be storming on all cylinders, NZL-92 was pushed by a small left shift. When the two boats went beyond the layline, the New Zealanders tacked left gaining control of the race. They rounded the top mark a mere 12 seconds ahead of the Swiss and the first run had all the ingredients of a tight race. Unfortunately, a series of spinnaker incidents aboard NZL-92 put an end to that excitement (read here our separate report and photos). After two blown spinnakers and a third "hourglass" hoist by Emirates Team NZ, Alinghi had built an advantage of more than 150m.

With such a gap it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recover, unless of course there is a breakage on your opponent's boat. This was not to be the case with Alinghi who sailed applying a loose but effective cover. The New Zealanders managed to significantly reduce Alinghi's lead but ultimately the Defender crossed the finish line 19 seconds in advance.

Four minutes before the start, the chasing game begins. Emirates Team NZ is pushing Alinghi towards the spectator fleet. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ is pushing Alinghi towards the spectator fleet. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ is pushing Alinghi towards the spectator fleet. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ is pushing Alinghi towards the spectator fleet. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ in the prestart of the race. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ and Alinghi in the prestart of the race, after rounding part of the spectator fleet. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Five seconds after the start gun had fired, Emirates Team NZ were sailing at full speed towards the left while Alinghi was off slowly towards the right. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ tack shortly after the start and the two boats start a long drag race till the right layline. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The two boats go beyond the right layline and Emirates Team NZ tack first, ahead of Alinghi. At that moment everybody thought the race was over. Little did we know!! Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Check here the photo sequence of the spinnaker incident at the beginning of the first run

Alinghi rounded the right leeward gate. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi rounded the right leeward gate. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi rounded the leeward gate 26 seconds ahead of Emirates Team NZ. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi had a comfortable lead at the first cross of the second beat. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

In the final stretch of the race Emirates Team NZ had significantly reduced Alinghi's lead. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi cross the finish line and score an extremely important victory. Valencia, 29 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing