Americas Cup

[Reggie666]

How do you think the Kiwis are going to get on?

[Flouro_Joe]

Is that a yact race? it hasn't even been publicised in this country

[mark180227]

Come on Luna Rossa...

an aussie james spithill is steering the thing should be a good final no matter what happens.

the kiwis are currently two up in the final series...the first to 5 wins get the right to challenge Alinghi (swiss) for the Americas Cup. Still a long way to go yet

www.sailing.org
Kiwis Put In A Top Performance To Lead 2-0


ACM 2007 (As Amended By ISAF). Image, Emirates put Luna Rossa to the sword for the second day running:© Th.Martinez, Valencia, Spain, Saturday, June 02, 2007
The Emirates Team New Zealand squad sailed what appeared to be a perfect race on Saturday, winning the start, taking an early advantage and extending the rest of the way to a convincing victory. The Kiwi team is now up 2-0 in the 'first to five' Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.









It was a beautiful day for racing on the waters off Valencia, with bright sunshine and warm Mediterranean temperatures generating a 12 to 14 knot sea breeze. A spectator fleet of over 250 boats lined the borders of the race area to enjoy the spectacle of two top America's Cup teams battling for supremacy.

Match 2 – Emirates Team New Zealand beat Luna Rossa Challenge – DELTA 0:40
Having conceded the right-hand side of the start line yesterday, James SPITHILL (AUS) took some risk in getting across the bow of Emirates Team New Zealand while Luna Rossa was on port tack. Despite a Y-flag protest by the Kiwis, the Umpires green-flagged the situation and the Italian gamble had paid off; SPITHILL was now controlling the right-hand side of the start box.

As the start gun fired however, it was the New Zealand boat that was fully up to speed, with the Italians close to windward but forced into an early tack to the right. That extra momentum off the start gave Dean BARKER (NZL) an early boatlength's advantage, which he used to tack over and shadow SPITHILL's progress to the right.

Like yesterday, the boats looked absolutely matched for speed in these moderate, steady breezes, which made that early advantage to the Kiwis all the more crucial. When the Italians eventually tacked back to face the enemy, the New Zealanders were able to respond to every assault and put added distance on their rivals as a tacking duel ensued.

At the first mark, the Kiwi advantage was up to 25 seconds. The Italians attempted a gybing duel down the run but weren't close enough to cause any harm. By the leeward gate the gap had extended to 35 seconds. Then it was a more passive second beat as the New Zealand lead was big enough to allow Terry HUTCHINSON (USA) to dictate more of a 'loose cover' strategy. In fact at times he even allowed Torben GRAEL (BRA) some breathing room, first to the left and then to the right side of the course, but each time the New Zealanders kept on extending.

At the final mark, the advantage was up to 39 seconds and despite more gybing from the Italians down the final run, the Kiwis crossed the finish line 40 seconds ahead, and looked very happy to have won by such a convincing margin.

[exrtnz]

The Kiwis will be far too strong! for Luna Rossa already 2-0 , Barker is a great in any conditions, and the whole crew TNZ have alot of cup racing experience behind them. :

[mark180227]

hey, last time new zealand got cocky they were pumped 5 zip in the decider.

watching the gear failure and the mast snapping is two was priceless.

Spithill beat BMW Oracle, this next match will be the key...

[exrtnz]

Originally Posted by mark180227

hey, last time new zealand got cocky they were pumped 5 zip in the decider.

watching the gear failure and the mast snapping is two was priceless.

Spithill beat BMW Oracle, this next match will be the key...

Hahaha! not this time! 3 - 0 NOW! :

An easy one at that 1min 38sec in front!

[exrtnz]

But Luna Rossa have done well in the races so far , especially in beating Oracle!

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by mark180227

hey, last time new zealand got cocky they were pumped 5 zip in the decider.

watching the gear failure and the mast snapping is two was priceless.

Spithill beat BMW Oracle, this next match will be the key...

Nearly as funny as the Aussie boat sinking

And who was there to rescue them
:

[Reggie666]

Originally Posted by mark180227

hey, last time new zealand got cocky they were pumped 5 zip in the decider.

watching the gear failure and the mast snapping is two was priceless.

Spithill beat BMW Oracle, this next match will be the key...

Not nearly as funny as watching One Australia sinking to the bottom of the Hauraki Golf in their pathetic 1995 bid

[mark180227]

Louis Vuitton Cup 2007

Another Convincing Win Puts Emirates Up 3-0


ACM 2007 (As Amended By ISAF). Image, Emirates are up 3-0:© Chris Cameron/ETNZ, Valencia, Spain, Sunday, June 03, 2007
Luna Rossa Challenge finds itself in a hole this afternoon after dropping its third consecutive match in the Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup. The Italians now trail Emirates Team New Zealand 3-0 in the 'first to five' series.









It will have been a discouraging day for Luna Rossa as helmsman James SPITHILL (AUS) appeared to win the start cleanly, starting 4 seconds ahead of the New Zealand boat, near the pin end of the line. The Emirates squad started to the right, late and slow, but soon picked up a nice finger of pressure to turn a 20 metre deficit into a 40 metre advantage. The Kiwis built on that lead the rest of the way.

Light sea breeze conditions under sunny skies were the order of the day, with an 8 to 10 knot southeasterly caressing the race course off Port America's Cup. A generous spectator fleet was on hand to witness the racing.

With the victory, Emirates Team New Zealand heads into Monday's 'off' day with a 3-0 lead. Racing is scheduled to resume with a 15:00 start time on Tuesday.

Match 3 – Emirates Team New Zealand beat Luna Rossa Challenge – DELTA 1:38
With Luna Rossa holding the advantage of the right-hand entry into the start box, SPITHILL drove Dean BARKER (NZL) into a dial-up. Both boats luffed high into the box and even beyond the start line, with things looking increasingly favourable for the Italian boat on the right. BARKER was beginning to look in trouble, but eventually he bore away deep on to starboard gybe, with SPITHILL responding with a tight turn inside.

As they re-crossed the start line both boats gybed on to port, with Italy leading back over to the Race Committee boat side of the starting line. SPITHILL probably could have inflicted further damage on the Kiwis but peeled away from his attack to focus on a perfect start from the middle of the line. The Italian boat was up to speed as the gun fired, while the Kiwis were struggling to accelerate from the committee boat end.

By the time both boats were up to speed, the Italians were a boatlength ahead, looking good, and set to take control of the match. Two minutes later, better breeze from the right had helped pull the New Zealand boat level, and a minute after that BARKER had claimed the lead. The Italians' superiority in the start had come to nothing. They kept on driving out to the left, hoping for something that could get them back ahead of their rivals but it was not coming. When they eventually tacked, the Kiwis tacked to cover and were about two boatlengths ahead.

BARKER bounced SPITHILL back out to the left in a succession of quick tacks, and the Italians found themselves out on the port tack layline with a lot of sailing still to be done up to the windward mark. Sitting in the wake of the New Zealand boat for so long, the delta at the first windward mark was up to 40 seconds.

A flurry of gybes initiated by the Italians downwind was a brave attempt to make a fight of it, but by the leeward gate the gap was up to 55 seconds. Despite the increasing distance, the New Zealand team sailed the match as tight as ever and maintained that 55 second lead around the final mark.

Some smart windspotting by the New Zealand afterguard on the last downwind leg saw BARKER almost double his lead. The boat just seemed to get faster and faster, as Emirates Team New Zealand sailed across the line 1 minute and 38 seconds in front of Luna Rossa.

After the race, Emirates Managing Director Grant DALTON (NZL) said the team was well-satisfied with their day on the water. 'We showed some good boat speed in the light, tactics were sound and the boys responded flawlessly to every attack that was thrown at them.

'They had a small advantage off the line and once we got in front we were absolutely determined to stay there. We really wanted to go three-up today…. but frankly we never thought that we would be three up after three races against Luna Rossa. It’s a good position to be in.'


Rossa is trouble, interesting to see what tactics they will take to get back into this. They had the measure on NZ early on, NZ got lucky with that line of pressure from the right.

Not nearly as funny as watching One Australia sinking to the bottom of the Hauraki Golf in their pathetic 1995 bid

Haha besides 1983 aussies havnt even been close. We dont put the required funding into it. Sailing in an unknown sport is Australia. It never gets and television time, the last Olympics games channel 7 didnt show any at all.

The America's Cup boats need a fair amount of cash to get going. Big Sponsorship deals etc. If Australia isnt getting air time, whats the point of sponsoring?

Still New Zealand were the favourites, were the current holder of the cup and were reduced to nothing. Alinghi will pump you guys again...

[Reggie666]

Its not about money mate...the Italians budget would pay for several of our challenges. It's about guts and determination

[exrtnz]

Originally Posted by Reggie666

Its not about money mate...the Italians budget would pay for several of our challenges. It's about guts and determination

Ever so true! Just look how the chinese beat bmw Oracle for there first win in the series.
But in saying that Alinghi will be tough, with all those experienced Kiwis onboard that wont make it easy.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Reggie666

Not nearly as funny as watching One Australia sinking to the bottom of the Hauraki Golf in their pathetic 1995 bid

Mate it was in San Diego

[Falcon Freak]

The America's Cup lost all credibility when they allowed the US to race a twin hull design in 1988 - details

FF

[Outbackjack]

Ho Hum.... Who cares..... Been there, done that. sleep:

[JG66ME]

So over it in 1983, yawn.

[MAGPIE]

Couple of really constructive posts there :

Seriously wonder why you bother, just sounds like sour grapes... nothing like going out at the top of your game or in Australia's case the bottom of the Pacific

[Outbackjack]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Couple of really constructive posts there :

Seriously wonder why you bother, just sounds like sour grapes... nothing like going out at the top of your game or in Australia's case the bottom of the Pacific

No sour grapes ya moron. If Australia had not have won the cup back in 83 the kiwis would never have been able to afford to challenge. You should be thanking Australia with all your humble might.

And please tell me what was so constructive about your post? :

Australia, like this forum, has always, and will always get along just fine with out you and your funny little people.

[cuz]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

No sour grapes ya moron. If Australia had not have won the cup back in 83 the kiwis would never have been able to afford to challenge. You should be thanking Australia with all your humble might.

And please tell me what was so constructive about your post? :

Australia, like this forum, has always, and will always get along just fine with out you and your funny little people.

Thats a top notch attitude there skippy.

Which funny little are you referring to???

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

No sour grapes ya moron. If Australia had not have won the cup back in 83 the kiwis would never have been able to afford to challenge. You should be thanking Australia with all your humble might.

Talk about delusional

We didn't win the cup when it was hosted in Oz, we challenged and won it in the U.S, what that has to do with Australia I don't know !

[Reggie666]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

No sour grapes ya moron. If Australia had not have won the cup back in 83 the kiwis would never have been able to afford to challenge. You should be thanking Australia with all your humble might.

And please tell me what was so constructive about your post? :

Australia, like this forum, has always, and will always get along just fine with out you and your funny little people.

Good to see the ANZAC spirit is alive and well in your corner...Jacko

[Reggie666]

Most of us "funny little people" in NZ were actually over the moon when aussie took the cup off the yanks in '83. And we won it fair and square from the yanks in '95 in San Diego too.

[Grum]

The AC is a race all about money, something like the sydney to hobart/admirals cup and small one design races are what sailing is about

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by JG66ME

So over it in 1983, yawn.

So according to your theory, everybody who achieves the utimate prize in their sport should retire immediately and not bother competing again? Bollocks.

FF

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

So according to your theory, everybody who achieves the utimate prize in their sport should retire immediately and not bother competing again? Bollocks.

FF

Not a "theory" at all. I just dont like the Americas Cup. Just my opinion. If you like it thats fine. It doesnt seem to be in the news here in AU much so I suspect I am with the majority that dosent care. I get most of my news from ABC Radio National and I dont recall it being mentioned. I was working in South Africa last week so I may have missed it.

I shall still be watching the Wallabies at the world cup even if we did lose the last one. I was gutted when JW kicked that goal in 03. We may not win but I just hope we do the best we can.

[Sloth]

Originally Posted by mark180227

Still New Zealand were the favourites, were the current holder of the cup and were reduced to nothing. Alinghi will pump you guys again...

The 2003 defence was rather embarrassing, the boat was too revolutionary and the fact that a number of our best guys were poached by money bags Alinghi made the whole thing seem a bit sour anyway.

[exrtnz]

Team NZ won again! now its 4-0 looks like Luna Rossa will be out of the comp very soon, and team nz will be racing alinghi!

[cuz]

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