AC World Series San Francisco - Another good day for Team Artemis

by Paul Cayard on 7 Oct 2012 Artemis Racing’s Paul Cayard reports from San Francisco, California at America's Cup World Series.

Another good day for Team Artemis out on the water yesterday. But this is not like any other regatta you have ever seen. First there is an air show with the Blue Angels doing Fly-Bys and crossing patterns at high speed, then large Navy cargo aircraft parading along at low speed followed by a two hour frenzy of sailboat racing on catamarans at 25 knots. It is all going on in San Francisco this week. On shore the 49ers are playing, the Giants are starting their playoffs, the Blue Grass festival is going on. Did I forget anything?

First up in the sailboat category was Artemis Red's quarter final Match Race against Oracle Coutts at 16:00. Russell got the better of us at the start and led comfortably all the way around. However, on the final leg, the Oracle boys rounded the wrong mark and were therefore disqualified. It isn't exactly the way we would have liked to get the win, but a win is a win and we move on to the semi-finals tomorrow.

Then we had two fleet races. Our starts on Artemis Red were not great today but we got the same results as yesterday...two fourths. Our crew work was very good and we sailed a pretty smooth track to move up through the fleet consistently. Artemis White had a great day with a 2, 1. They had very good starts, good speed and sailed the course well.

Today both of the Artemis boats will race in a semi-final Match Race, starting at 1600. Then we will join the fleet for two more fleet races. After all that, the finals of the Match Racing will be held. Needless to say, it will be a long day. Americas Cup website