Sunday, February 14, 2010

33rd America's Cup - Day 7 - Race 2: LIVE blogging

BMW ORACLE WINS

THE 33RD AMERICA'S CUP

IN VALENCIA


6:45pm Alinghi officially informs the race committee they will not proceed with their protest.

6:37pm Alinghi do their penalty turn and cross the finish line 5:26 behind BMW Oracle. Nevertheless, the protest flag is still flying.

6:31pm BMW Oracle crosses the finish line.

6:25pm The sun will set in 10 minutes and the 2 yahcts are in the final stretch to the finish. BMW Oracle are comfortably ahead.

6:05pm BMW Oracle sails towards victory in the final leg. Alinghi still has protest flag but there is no information on what it could be.

5:56pm Alinghi rounds gybe mark 2:44 behind BMW Oracle

5:53pm USA is first to the gybe mark.

5:40pm USA is 1,500 meters ahead of Alinghi 5

5:34pm 9 miles from mark 2 USA seems faster, topping 30 knots at moments.

5:29pm USA and Alinghi blaze at 30 knots towars mark 2.

5:24pm BMW Oracle rounds top mark 28 seconds ahead of Alinghi.

5:20pm BMW Oracle gets ahead.

5:19pm Alinghi crosses ahead of BMW Oracle. Alinghi tacks slowly.

5:10pm BMW Oracle reach port layline and tack

5:10pm Protest flag by Alinghi.

5:00pm Incredible role reversal in this race. Alinghi is the clear leader, BMW Oracle the laggard.

4:53pm Huge right shift benefits Alinghi!! The Swiss extend lead to over 500 meters.

4:48pm Great tactical call by Brad Butterwoth. The right pays for Alinghi that leads by 300 meters.

4:44pm One third up the 1st beat, Alinghi is leading by 100 meters.

4:41pm Alinghi sails into better wind and leads by 80 meters. Loïck Peyron is helming Alinghi 5.

4:33pm Alinghi tacks, we are heading towards the first crossing.

4:33pm Both boats are on port tack, USA has 500-meter advantage.

4:28pm USA tacks first.

4:26pm Alinghi struggles at the start. BMW Oracle crosses the line and goes left, Alinghi right.

4:21pm Alinghi receives penalty for not being outside the start box.

4:16pm Wind speed is between 6 and 8 knots throughout the course.

4:14pm The postponement flag is down and the race course axis is set at 100º. This is a must-win race for Alinghi!!!

4:00pm Postponement flag to go down at 4:14pm, race to start at 4:25pm.

3:45pm It's looking better by the minute and it seems we'll have a race right before limit time.

3:25pm The wind is stabilising in direction, around 150-degrees. It's still quite light but we see the TV helicopters take off!!!

2:45pm Good news, it seems we are going to have a race! Harold Bennett and the race committee are cleaning the start area.

2:10pm Unfortunately, we are still under postponement. The breeze is not there.

12:52pm The race committee boat is moving in order to set a new course. The breeze is still too light, no more than 2-3 knots.

12:50pm Nothing new to report. Racing is still postponed, waiting for the breeze.

12:10pm While we are waiting for the breeze to build up, rumors abound in the press center and the sailing media. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy's largest sports newspaper, if BMW Oracle wins the America's Cup in Valencia, Mascalzone Latino will become the Challenger of Record and the 34th America's Cup match will take place in Newport, Rhode Island in 2013.

In fact, Alessandra Pandarese, Mascalzone Latino's legal counsel, is reported to currently be aboard Larry Ellison's Rising Sun, in order to present the challenge, if and when USA crosses the finish line ahead of Alinghi 5. We are waiting for the photo of Pandarese wearing the BMW Oracle outfit, enjoying Valencia's nice sunshine.

11:54am Race committee raises the postponement flag. It's still too light over the race course. In fact, this is exactly what our MeteoSim model was forecasting for noon.

11:25am It's still light throughout the race course. The official 33rd America's Cup twitter page gives 3 to 5 knots. Here's the map with the race committee boat's position. Harold Bennett probably thinks there is better chance for the breeze to build up much closer to the coast than in the previous days.

Map of the race committee boat position for Race 2 of the 33rd America's Cup. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Copyright Valencia Sailing

10:55am Should we buy the domain name www.newportsailing.com or www.raksailing.com?

10:45am Alinghi 5 and USA are now in the start area with very light breeze. Check Alinghi's twitter page for all the latest info and photos.

Alinghi 5 and USA are now in the start area. Valencia, 14 February 2010. Photo copyright alinghi

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11 Comments:

At 11:21 AM, Anonymous Jose said...

Pierre, compra sanfranciscosailing.com mejor.

¿Puedes colgar el mapa exacto de la regata anterior con la salida/llegada y boya de barlovento? Gracias.

 
At 12:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Protesto Mascalzone como COR. ¿ Y ETNZ,LR,VC,DE,incluso Alinghi...? A los tribunales otra vez.
Ya quiere hacer chanchullo el tio Larry con los debiles de Mascalzone?

 
At 1:14 PM, Blogger WetHog said...

Mascalzone the new COR huh? Makes sense. And AC34 in Newport, RI? Now that is taking the Cup back to its rightful home.

Despite the fine job Valencia has done hosting AC32 and AC33, the Cup in Newport would be great. A lot of Cup history made on those waters.

 
At 3:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Go ALINGHI Go !!
It's Valentine's Day !! Go for Victory!!! Com ' On !!
Go Go Go

 
At 6:45 PM, Blogger folkenbolt said...

THERE IS NO SECOND !!!

 
At 6:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

USA! USA! USA!

Great job by BMW-Oracle. Now let's have a FAIR, traditional regatta for AC34.

 
At 6:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

See you in court on 25th Feb......

 
At 6:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

sorry to say, but at this level you can't get a penalty in that way... Ernesto, think about going to school at WMRT...

 
At 7:03 PM, Blogger Me Myself said...

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA U!S!A!
Jim Barnett Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, Alabama We are proud of BMW/Oracle our USA team. The Cup comes HOME.

 
At 7:04 PM, Blogger folkenbolt said...

It is really over then!
Goodbye forever Ernesto.

 
At 7:41 PM, Blogger Jonathan Foster said...

I waited in New York most of the day for this race to start. Decided to go out for a 2 hr bike ride and when i got back, it had all taken place. Read through the blog. With America's Cup 33, sailing finally had 2 boats which disproved- or went beyond- the old addage that watching a sailboat race is like watching grass grow. Whoever was blogging this race put me to sleep. No information at all. Did you never listen to a baseball game?

 

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