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Sail-World.com : New Zealand built yachts joint leaders in Audi MedCup
New Zealand built yachts joint leaders in Audi MedCup
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'Emirates Team New Zealand approach the first mark in Race six of the Trofeo Ciudad de Alicante. Audi MedCup'
Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ ©
Click Here to view large photo
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 | Emirates Team New Zealand round the first mark in Race six of the Trofeo Ciudad de Alicante. Audi MedCup - Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo |
The two New Zealand built yachts, launched just a couple of months ago at the Viaduct harbour, are tied on the top of the points table at the Audi MedCup regatta in Alicante.
Both yachts were built by Cookson Boats, fitted with Southern Spars and with sails from North Sails NZ. On the penultime day Artemis (SWE) and Emirates Team New Zealand are tied on the top of the table with 30pts. One ahead of the previous leader, Quantum Racing (USA). Matador (ESP), a new Judel/Vrolijk design, with three Kiwis aboard is fourth two points astern. There is a big six point gap back to the fifth placed Bigamist 7 (POR).
Emirates Team New Zealand started the day with two good placings, winning Race 5, their first win on the MedCup circuit, and placing second in the next - both sailed in light winds than yesterday. However a crash to 10th place in the 12 boat fleet cost them dearly on the points table, and they are fortunate to still be tied for the lead.
Audi MedCup racing is about consistency, and falls from grace of that nature do not help.
The New Zealanders got away to a slow start in Race 5, starting in the middle of the line and opting for the left hand side of the course, things did not go their way and they were in the bottom quartile of the fleet for the opening stanza of the first beat. However a left hand shift enable the Kiwis to climb back into the game in the closing stages of the first beat - only being a couple of boatlengths behind the race leader, Artemis (SWE), with Russell Coutts calling the tactics. The New Zealanders improved further rounding the top mark in second place, behind Artemis and just 10 secs in arrears.
After a brief exchange of tacks halfway up the second beat, Emirates Team New Zealand just seemed to find another gear and sailed through to leeward of her New Zealand comrade in arms. When they crossed and rounded the windweard mark, Emirates Team NZ lead by a 15sec lead, which equated to around 70metres on the water.
In spite of a few nervous moments on the final run, when Ray Davies. calling tactics for Emirates TNZ, took them off to the right hand (upwind) layline, causing the Kiwis to briefly relinquish the lead, however Davies kept control of the right and it paid back on the run approach to the finish, when the Kiwis edged in front and won by 9 secs over Artemis, with El Desafio 19secs behind the Kiwis.
Emirates Team NZ got away to a good start at the Committee boat end of the line in Race 6, with Quantum Racing (USA) being well placed in the middle of the line, and Pisco Sour leading the leeward group. A big right hand shift on the first leg worked New Zealand's way, and they climbed from the middle of the fleet to be third around the windward mark behind Bigamist 7 and Artemis.
 | Emirates Team New Zealand finish race six of the Trofeo Ciudad de Alicante in third place. Audi MedCup - Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo |
Although Emirates Team New Zealand again opted for the right, the shift wasn't there to the same extent and placings remained the same, with Emirates Team NZ taking third place on the water 2m 26secs behind Bigamist 7, and 54 secs behind Artemis.
Emirates Team New Zealand started at the leeward end of the line in Race 7, and struggled with Pisco Sour and Synery to leeward. Quantum Racing and Bribon took the the right hand side of the course soon after the start. That move seemd to pay off, as they closed into the middle of the course and took the gain - Bribon grabbed the lead around the first mark, wiuth Quantum Racing in with Artemis once again in the top trio.
At the top third of the second beat, Artemis got into leeward of Bribon, forcing her to tack away to the right, allowing the Swedish boat to take the lead. The both went for opposite laylines, but when they closed to the windward mark for the fional time, Artemis coming in on port, enjoyed a 28 second lead over Bribon, with Quantum Racing in third.
 | Downwind on the final stages of Race 7, Quantum racing gets squeezed from the left and right dropping from third around the windward mark, to lose the series lead. - ARL Media Click Here to view large photo |
Quantum Racing seemed to lose her way tactically on the final stages of the downwind leg, sailing a middle course trying to cover groups out on both laylines, eventually she lost to both, dropping back to seventh place (84secs behind Artemis) at the finish, and sliding her down to third on overall points.
 | Emirates Team New Zealand follow Artemis around the first mark in race five. ETNZ go on to take their first, first placing. Trofeo Ciudad de Alicante. Audi MedCup - Emirates Team New Zealand / Photo Chris Cameron ETNZ © Click Here to view large photo |
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8:13 PM Sat 16 May 2009 GMT
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