Emirates Team NZ- Collision puts an end to bid for a better day at ESS

by Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ on 24 Aug 2014 A collision brought Emirates Team New Zealand’s bid for a better day on the water to an abrupt halt on the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series regatta at Cardiff.

Skipper Dean Barker and crew made a good start in the fifth race of the day, rounding the first mark in second and then overtaking the leader.

At the next mark, as Barker recounts, 'We had an issue with Alinghi. They were trying to avoid another boat and ploughed into the back of our boat and took off the port rudder.' SAP Extreme was also involved, hitting the team’s starboard hull. No one was hurt.

'We had to pull out of that race and sit out the following two while repairs were made,' Barker said,

A jury hearing will be held tomorrow morning where culpability will be determined and decide if points will be awarded for the missed races. 'We feel we have a pretty strong case but it’s up to the umpires to determine if we were in the right or wrong.'

With the boats hitting top speeds of 24 knots, and with a race course just 300 metres wide in places, the fleet were on the congested start line and even closer during the mark roundings.

Ten races were held today, each lasting just six minutes, manoeuvres had to be executed quickly and with precision, with rapid deploys of the gennakers, before gybing and furling all in less than 20 seconds.

Groupama sailing team, damaged in a collision with GAC Pindar on the first day, was unable to complete repairs overnight and did not compete today. The team will be back on the water tomorrow and will be awarded average points for the races they have missed.



Cardiff standings after Day 2 – 20 races

Position / Team / Points
1st Alinghi (SUI) 141 points.
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 139 points.
3rd J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 131 points.
4th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 120 points.
5th Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 113 points.
6th Oman Air (OMA) 106 points
7th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 91 points.
8th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 87 points.
9th Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 75 points.
10th GAC Pindar (AUS) 67 points.
11th Groupama sailing team (FRA) 33 points