Sunday, June 03, 2007

Louis Vuitton Cup - Finals - Day 3: Emirates Team NZ thrash Luna Rossa

In this morning preview we asked who was to blame for Luna Rossa's weak performance in the first two races. The same question is now begging for an answer after their humiliating defeat by Emirates Team NZ, the third in a row. Not only did the Italians lose three races, in each one of the them Emirates Team NZ increased their lead, from 8 seconds, to 40 seconds and today's 1:38 minutes.

James Spithill, the Australian helmsman of Luna Rossa, did his job in what initially seemed to be an excellent way. After controlling the prestart, Luna Rossa powered ahead when the gun fired while NLZ-92 was thought to be struggling with lower speed at the committee boat end. But as Ray Davies, tactician aboard NZL-92, said the weather call couldn't be more precise. Emirates Team NZ was looking to be positioned tighter leeward or wide right and that's exactly what they got. During a long straight race the kiwis pushed Luna Rossa to the left and turned a 25-meter disadvantage to a 40-meter lead. In vain, the Italians were looking for the additional 10 meters that could have allowed them to cross in front but that never took place.

When the two boats crossed, NZL-92 was already 2 boatlengths ahead of ITA-94. In the rest of the first leg, Emirates Team NZ kept tight control and being on the favored side extended their lead and rounded the top mark 40 seconds in advance. The first run was dominated by New Zealand. The Italians tried to force an error on NZL-92 with 8 gybes but once again crew work was impeccable and the kiwis extended their lead to 55 seconds at the leeward gate.

In the second beat the New Zealanders were always in control and left Luna Rossa no breathing space. At the top mark the lead was again 55 seconds. During the last leg, Emirates Team NZ added insult to injury by finding better wind pressure and extending the lead to an incredible 1:38 minutes at the finish line, a delta that made us remember the days of the round robins and the matches against the German or Chinese teams.

With 10 seconds to go, everybody on the media boat was applauding Spithill's apparently great start. How little did we know. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

One second after the start Luna Rossa was leading at the starting line while Emirates Team NZ was still at the committee end and with lower speed. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ start 9 seconds late and at that moment everybody thought the "magic" Spithill had won the race right at the start. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ pushed by both pressure and a small right shift put on the accelerator and decrease their gap. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Four minutes after the start, Emirates Team NZ turned a 25-meter disadvantage into a 40-meter advantage. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

After a long straight line where Emirates Team NZ pushed Luna Rossa to the left, the kiwis are ahead at the first cross. Game over! Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Halfway through the first run Emirates Team NZ had built a comfortable advantage. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

We are sick and tired of repeating this but crew work on Emirates Team NZ at the leeward gate once again reached perfection. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ rounded the leeward gate 55 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Despite their lead, the kiwis tacked immediately after the leeward gate to cover the Italian boat. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Not much to say about the last leg. Emirates Team NZ found still better wind and were leading by half a kilometer at stage. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

I always like this kind of shots. NZL-92 just crossed the finish line, 1:38 minutes ahead of ITA-94 and Emirates Team NZ are now 3-0 in the finals. Still, not a handshake on the boat not an eyebrow raised. Valencia, 3 June 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

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1 Comments:

At 9:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

for me its all about boat speed, 92 is a bit faster then 94, same went for 98 versus 94...
in the end starting 1st and last and taking the wrong shifts escuse is all about a good reply to journalists...

 

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