Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Louis Vuitton Final - Match 4

In a light 7-8knot easterly breeze ETNZ come from behind (however brief) to win the fourth match of the Louis Vuitton final. The call on the ETNZ boat was for a clean start and favour the upper left side of the course. However, in the split tack start Luna Rossa started at the boat on port and sailed for about 2 minutes before tacking back toward ETNZ. When ETNZ tacked to port Luna Rossa crossed ahead by 100 metres and tacked on top of ETNZ forcing them back to the left. When the two boats converged again ETNZ was in a nice lefty with pressure and cut Luna Rossa's lead to 60 metres. Luna Rossa tacked to leeward and ahead protecting what they thought was the favoured right hand side. But ETNZ were fully hooked in this left hander and simply sailed higher and faster than Luna Rossa. ETNZ had them pinned to the layline and when both boats tacked simltaneously to the top mark ETNZ extended rounding 19 seconds ahead.

Toward the end of the downwind leg Luna Rossa threw 2 extra gybes in a desperate effort to close on ETNZ, but then chose the wrong gate mark. ETNZ ahead by 54 seconds. Luna Rossa tried again to close on ETNZ by engaging them in a tacking duel but to no avail ETNZ ahead at the second winward mark by 1 minute. ETNZ finishing 52 seconds ahead Luna Rossa and lead the series 4-0.

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