Green Comm off to a slow start in America's Cup World Series

by Pierre Orphanidis on 11 Sep 2011
With less than 10 days racing on AC45's and their first time ever in brisk conditions, Green Comm Racing has a slow start in America's Cup World Series Plymouth

The opening day of the America's Cup World Series delivered the big conditions conditions everybody was hoping for. The breeze was blowing from early in the morning and the nine AC45 yachts raced in winds between 20 and 25 knots. It was the first time the Green Comm Racing crew raced in brisk conditions and this was reflected in the scoretable. With just 11 days of sailing under their belts, the Olympic champions onboard Green Comm Racing can do nothing but improve!

After a one-month break from Cascais and just two days of training in Plymouth, the Green Comm Racing crew didn't want to take huge risks in the opening race of the event. They had a slow start and stayed in seventh place throughout the race.
The second race of the day started with a bang for Green Comm Racing. Vasilij Zbogar hit the starting line at the pin end, hot on the heels of James Spithill, and rounded the first two marks a few seconds behind the winner of the 33rd America's Cup. However, a penalty in the first upwind leg and a small collision with Aleph at the first upwind gate put an end to the Spanish team's hopes. Green Comm Racing crossed the finish line in eighth place, after Team Korea withdrew due to gear failure.

The start of the day's third and final fleet race was again very promising and Green Comm Racing was third in the first leeward gate, sneaking inside James Spithill. Nevertheless, they weren't able to hold on to their position and finished ninth.
Following the conclusion of the fleet races, the nine AC45 teams took part in the 500-meter speed trials where Green Comm Racing finished seventh. The best time of the team's three speed trials was 44.19 seconds, with an average speed of 22 knots.

Quotes of the day

Vasilij Zbogar, helmsman: 'Before docking out this morning we agreed that our goal today was just to sail safe but when all went smooth in the first race we decided to push more in the second and third race. We had a great start in the second race and kept the second place until the bottom mark but then, unfortunately, slipped back.

We still have to work a lot on our maneuvers because in the tacks and gybes we give up some places. However, at the end of the day we are happy with what we achieved, it was only our 11th day on the water. We still have a lot to learn but still it is a much better first day than our first day in Cascais.

Today we got four penalties, three times because we were over the course limits and another because we had a collision with Aleph. There were 3-4 boats coming into the top mark and in the pileup we hit the French.

I wouldn't say it was a bad day for the team. At the beginning our attitude was to keep the boat in one piece but at the end we raced and it didn't turn out well. Tomorrow is another day and we look forward to it. We all are competitive sailors and we want to win. So, we will again do our best and we try to get the best result.'