Louis Vuitton Pacific Series – Race Reports - Final day

by Keith Taylor on 14 Feb 2009
Emirates Team New Zealand won the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacific Series staged in Auckland, beating the Challenger Finalist Alinghi by 3-1 in the best of five Trophy Final

Race 3: Finals Race 4 – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Alinghi – 0:20s

The host Emirates Team New Zealand made it three in a row to win the series. Alinghi had control of the start but there appeared to be divergent opinions about the favoured end of the line. Alinghi broke off to make a start near the pin, leaving the Kiwi boat to start at speed in the middle. The Swiss enjoyed a small early advantage, getting out 23 metres in front of the New Zealanders. However when Ed Baird tacked Alinghi back on port, Emirates was there on starboard and pushed them back to the left side. With the breeze shifting left and increasing, Alinghi made tack after tack in their attempt to break through but were quickly on the port tack layline and had to follow Emirates into the mark, rounding 29 seconds astern. The Swiss boat brought more wind down on the first run and closed the gap at the leeward mark to 21 seconds but New Zealand had the upper hand and cruised to a 20 second victory.
Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:29 - ETNZ
Mark 2 - 0:15 - ETNZ
Mark 3 - 0:21 - ETNZ
Finish - 0:20 - ETNZ

Race 2: Finals Race 3 – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Alinghi – 0:33s
Emirate’s Team New Zealand shut Alinghi out of the second start while laying a penalty on the hapless Swiss and then starting clear ahead. With the penalty hanging over his head, Alinghi skipper Ed Baird worked hard stay in touch and bring the race back to the Kiwis but without success. The Barker/Davies helm/tactician duo was in perfect synch in this prestart, the Kiwis engaging Baird in a dialup, and a chase, then testing him in a couple of pre-start circles. With time in hand, Baird broke away to head back to the line, pushed by Emirates. The Kiwi boat drove the Swiss above the layline. Baird wriggled frantically with two sharp low speed tacks before gybing away as the umpires flagged him for overrotating and failing to keep clear. In a lighter breeze, Emirates turned an early 80 metre advantage into a 100 metre lead only to see it evaporate as Alinghi came back on a big left shift. They tacked together up to the top mark until Emirates got clear again and led by 30 seconds. Alinghi pulled up close again at the finish but the margin was 34 seconds after they completed their penalty turn. The score in the best-of-five series is now 2-1 for Emirates and the New Zealand team has only to win one more race to claim the series and the Louis Vuitton Pacific Trophy.
Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:31 - ETNZ
Mark 2 - 0:25 - ETNZ
Mark 3 - 0:29 - ETNZ
Finish - 0:33 - ETNZ


Race 1: Finals Race 2 – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Alinghi – 0:29s
The host New Zealand team was on fire on a gray rainy morning after its loss yesterday. Skipper/helmsman Dean Barker and his tactician Ray Davies made the right calls in the prestart, allowing them to convert an even start into the thin end of a winning wedge. Emirates Team New Zealand beat Alinghi by 29 seconds after leading the Swiss team around the course to make the series 1-1. Alinghi had the favoured entry into the start box. The boats dialed up and then circled warily but without any obvious advantage. When they broke away to sail back to the line, Alinghi went for the committee end and Emirates headed for the middle in a mirror version of yesterday’s start. This time the Kiwis made fractional gains until a small left shift gave them the leverage to make a close, heart-stopping port tack cross. From there they covered Alinghi and worked the shifts to sail steadily away.
Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:18 - ETNZ
Mark 2 - 0:21 - ETNZ
Mark 3 - 0:34 - ETNZ
Finish - 0:29 - ETNZ

Pre-Race Report 1000 hours NZ Time
There was light rain but plenty of cheers as Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand cast off their lines this morning at the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Village at the Viaduct Basin for the last day of competition. Conditions are forecast to improve by midday. After losing time to weather yesterday, the finalists will now sail a best-of-five series, rather than the best-of-seven originally scheduled. With their win yesterday in the first race, Alinghi has only to win two more races to take the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy. Emirates must win three of the next four races.
There may be a delay in starting while we wait for the weather to settle. There is also a gear issue. Alinghi is working to fix a problem with their mainsail tack
The heaviest rain in Auckland came early this morning as a trough of low pressure moved across the city. Strong winds are forecast offshore, with 20-35 knots on the outer Hauraki Gulf and gusts to 45. On the green course where the Race Committee is setting up, we’re expecting easterly breeze at 15 to 22 knots by noon, backing as the afternoon wears on to 60-80 degrees.