Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa both score big startline wins

Saturday, 24 August 2024

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Bold startline tactics delivered decisive second wins to Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa on the second day of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta in Barcelona.

A French no show in the last race gifted a third win to Team New Zealand, which now leads the series on three points, with Luna Rossa, and American Magic on two, and Alinghi RBR on one, and Orient Express and INEOS Britannia winless.

Race Four: Team New Zealand vs Orient Express

Team New Zealand beat Britannia in their opening race on day two of the preliminary regatta.

In an anti-climactic end to racing on Saturday (NZ time), France’s Orient Express didn’t start, calling a five-minute delay, then retiring with what its skipper Quentin Delapierre called a “major technical issue”.

Delapierre didn’t give details but said it was not something that would affect it turning up tomorrow for day three.

Team New Zealand still had to cross the startline, but the race was abandoned shortly afterwards, handing the Kiwis their third win.

American Magic has to duck behind the startline as Luna Rossa take off

Race Three: American Magic vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

In an aggresive pre-start move, Luna Rossa managed to push American Magic outside the startline mark, heading off up the course as Patriot stumbled back behind the line before setting off in pursuit.

Tom Slingsby on Patriot’s helm had to watch his former Oracle Team USA team-mate Jimmy Spithill sail ahead for the rest of the race with margins of 17-21 seconds at the marks.

On day two of the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, watch as Emirates Team New Zealand take on INEOS Britannia.

The Italians led American Magic home by 40 seconds.

Race Two: INEOS Britannia vs Team New Zealand

The defender and its challenger of record locked into some tight manoeuvres heading for the line, but Team New Zealand was the more nimble.

In the final seconds, Ben Ainslie’s crew went off the foils and were left floundering, as Peter Burling’s crew headed off into what essentially became a one-boat race.

Ainslie will be disappointed, taking two big defeats in its first two outings, the first at the hands of American Magic on day one, and losing ground on each upwind leg.

Team NZ dumped INEO Britannia at the start of race six to take its second win.

Team New Zealand’s coach Ray Davies, during live commentary, described the decisive move by his team as “pretty brutal”, underlined by the 52sec margin.

Burling told the live coverage it was: “nice to be able to take that opportunity to shut the race down.”

American Magic on the way to victory over Alinghi RBR opening Day Two of the preliminary regatta.

Race One: Alinghi Red Bull Racing vs NYYC American Magic

Alinghi RBR led into the start box, but it was the Americans who led narrowly across the line, with the Swiss forced to tack away, and from there could no longer foot it.

The Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison-helmed Patriot led by 12sec around the first mark, and the margin grew as the Americans made the most of the 12 knot winds.

Aranud Psarofaghis and Maxime Bachelin at the Swiss helms, sailed a clean race, but the speed shown by the Americans, hitting 46 knots, was a reminder of a similar performance on day one against INEOS Britannia.

By the turn into the sixth and last leg, Alinghi RBR trailled by 46sec, and by the finish line it was 56sec.

Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta, day two results:

Race five: American Magic beat Alinghi

Race six: Team New Zealand beat Britannia

Race seven: Luna Rossa beat American Magic

Race eight: Team New Zealand beat Orient Express

Standings: Team Zealand 3, Luna Rossa 2, American Magic 2, Alinghi 1, Britannia 0, Orient Express 0.