Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Alinghi wins first race

by Keith Taylor, LVPSMedia and Richard Gladwell, on 13 Feb 2009
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series – Day 14, 13th February, 2009

Race 1 – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy

Alinghi beat Emirates Team New Zealand – 0:22s

Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand dominated the challenging Alinghi team in the pre-start in a nice 17-knot south-west breeze. Barker had the favored end and used it to advantage, pinning Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird out above the line on three reaches backwards and forwards, parallel with the line and leaving Baird no escape route.

Barker wanted the left and broke away from a port reach to make a long circling turn below the committee boat and make a high speed start in the middle of the line, conceding an opportunity for Baird to start closer to the committee boat, but with plenty of separation.

The Kiwi boat enjoyed a slight lead for long minutes but any anticipated left shift never materialized and the American boat edged ahead on a small right shift to take control and lead around the rest of the course as the breeze increased to 22 knots.

Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:12 - Alinghi
Mark 2 - 0:20 - Alinghi
Mark 3 - 0:25 - Alinghi
Finish - 0:22 - Alinghi

Race 2 has been delayed due to strong winds - above the informal limit set by organsers to minise gear damage. Backstay alarms could be heard sounding regularly on both yachts, indicating maximum load had been exceeded.

Race Report 1300 hours NZ Time

The south-west breeze today was forecast to top out at 25 knots early this afternoon, and it continued to build after the finish of the first race shortly before 1200. The race committee held off the next start but an hour later it was blowing 28 knots when they hoisted signal flags AP over H, telling the race boats to return to the Viaduct Basin but to remain on hold in anticipation of more racing later this afternoon. The Race Committee will remain on station in the Rangitoto Channel off North Head, monitoring the conditions.

Race Report 1530 hours NZ Time
With the south-westerly still in the high 20s, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio abandoned racing for the remainder of the day. The final has been shortened to a best-of-five series. Racing will resume at 1100 hours tomorrow.