Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) have each scored another win today in their semi final matches.
In ETNZ's match against Desafío Español, the kiwis managed to get the hook on the Spanish with just 40seconds before the start forcing them to luff head to wind, slow down and eventually head to the committiee boat end of the start line. Meanwhile ETNZ built speed and hit the line running. Both boats then took a long port tack out to the right hand side before Spanish started to come back towards ETNZ. But ETNZ never let the Spanish cross to the left and the starboard layline came too quickly for the Spanish, both boats overlaying and ETNZ with the advantage. Then Barker and his team kept a close cover never allowing Desafío Español any passing lanes to win by 42 seconds.
In Luna Rossa's match against BMW Oracle, the Italians managed to start in the middle left of the line and BMW Oracle the right. In the prestart BMW Oracle broke there starboard flipper, which was no doubt a hinderence to their performance. Once again the starboard layline came too quickly for BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa lead around the top mark by 13 seconds. Luna Rossa held the lead down the run where the boats chose different marks at the gate. Luna Rossa the right and Oracle the left. But now Luna Rossa took a huge risk and sailed away from their opposition. For 8minutes the boats sailed away from each other before BMW Oracle on the left tack over to port. But fortunatley for Luna Rossa the breeze shifted 3 or 4 degrees to the right and they made a gain. Luna Rossa then change tactics and kept a close cover on BMW Oracle to secure the win by 23seconds.
No comments:
Post a Comment