A light 8-10 knot sea breeze greeted the Finalists of the Louis Vuitton Cup today in Valencia. In contrast to previous days, Luna Rossa took complete control of the start after entering from the starboard end of the start line. Both boats were in along dial up and Luna Rossa prevented ETNZ getting to the right hand side. With 1:30 to go the boats were still above the start line head to wind. They fell away onto port tack and it looked like a great opportunity to for James Spithill to make a kill and luff ETNZ head to wind before gybing and returning to the start line. But Luna Rossa gybed away allowing ETNZ to follow, Luna Rossa heading toward the middle of the line with speed but ETNZ tacking around and start with about 3 knots less speed than Luna Rossa.
With an immediate 40 metre advantage to Luna Rossa it looked like a great opportunity for them to tack and cross ETNZ. (text book sailing says "cross when you can!"). However Luna Rossa kept heading out on starboard whilst ETNZ to windward hooked into a little more pressure and returned the advantage line in their favour. By the time Luna Rossa were left with no choice but to tack the Kiwi's were 2 boat lengths ahead and rounded the first windward mark 40 seconds ahead.
True to form ETNZ stayed between their opposition and the next mark extending on every leg to win by a whopping 1:38. ETNZ 3 - Luna Rossa 2.
Is this the beginning of the end?
No comments:
Post a Comment