[source: iShares Cup]
Racing begins for Round 4 of the iShares Cup in Kiel, Germany today — and there’s still all to play for on the leaderboard. TEAMORIGIN are in first place in the series overall, just one point ahead of Alinghi.
Today TEAMORIGIN will be pushing hard to extend their lead, having made repairs to their boat after running aground during yesterday’s practice race and damaging their daggerboards. Skippered by defending iShares Cup champion Rob Greenhalgh, the British team have finished second at the three events on the 2008 iShares Cup circuit so far to hold a narrow points advantage overall.
Close behind in second place are America’s Cup Defenders Alinghi, who have won the past two events of the iShares Cup circuit at Hyères in France and Cowes, UK. They’ll be hoping to carry on their winning form at this penultimate regatta and overtake the British America’s Cup challengers TEAMORIGIN.
But it’s also close right throughout the top-class 10-boat field. In third place are Holmatro, skippered by multihull specialist Andreas Hagara. Holmatro had a great result at the last event in Cowes to finish third overall, just one point ahead of BT, who are chasing hard in fourth.
This afternoon’s racing will be held just yards from the shore on the Kieler Førde, making for some great spectator viewing but tricky racing conditions. Nick Moloney, skipper of BT, explained: “It’s going to be very tricky racing, lots of lead changes and tough tactical calls. Yesterday small rain squalls crossed the course throughout the racing with strong gusts in random areas of the course making it difficult to chose the favoured lanes to sail down both upwind and downwind.
“We had a shocking start to the day choosing a port tack start option in race one which did not pay and we were unable to dig our way out of a deep position. The second race was better with a third. Our game plan is to aim for high averages like we did in Lugano and see how we look by Saturday night.
“I think the venue will be pretty awesome. The Germans seem right into it! All the boys are fired up. We feel well prepped and ready to go for it!”
Two boats rejoining the racing at Kiel are Tommy Hilfiger, and Team Aqua — who retired from the Cowes event after breaking their mast. “The last few weeks have been a busy time for the Team Aqua Extreme 40 team, both on the water and on shore. You may well have seen our spectacular capsize during the Cowes iShares Cup event in early August,” said Team Aqua trimmer Jim Turner.
“Five boats capsized in strong winds and choppy waves on the Solent and we were one of the three unlucky teams (along with BMW ORACLE Racing & JPMorgan Asset Management) who broke masts. Our support team of Tim Corney and Alec Richardson rose to the occasion and along with repair work carried out by Richard Woof, we’re now in Kiel ready to go.
“Kiel also sees a new crewmember join our Extreme 40 team. Jeff Brock is no stranger to Team Aqua as he is a regular member on the RC44 team. Yesterday was our first sailing since the capsize and everything went well. We had two practice races and we had placings of second and fifth so it was a good feeling to be back in amongst the leaders. All the best from Germany!”
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