Sail-World.com : Spectacular action at Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta Day 2

News Home

Text Only News

Powerboat-World

MarineBusiness World

Animated Knots

Video Gallery

VOR 2011-12

World Cruising

2013 America's Cup

Sail-World.com : Spectacular action at Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta Day 2

Spectacular action at Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta Day 2

'Barker and Minoprio' Chris Cameron/ETNZ Click Here to view large photo

Winds gusting over 25 knots and big windshifts forced an early end to the second day of racing in the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta today – after some spectacular early action saw the teams at the edge of control.

Two flights were completed before race officials sent the yachts off the race track, with Britain’s Ben Ainslie strengthening his hold on the leaderboard. The triple Olympic gold medallist and his Team Origin crew won both their matches, the first over Sebastien Col and the second over New Zealand America’s Cup veteran Chris Dickson.

Ainslie is alone at the top of the leaderboard on 8-2, with three teams, Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand, world match race champion Adam Minoprio and Polish ace Karol Jablonski on 6-4.

Regatta co-ordinator John Rountree of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron said racing was abandoned for the day because the wind was reaching the upper limits for the fleet of identical Farr MRX match racers. 'We have passed the stage of fair match racing,' said Rountree.

The racing that was accomplished today, saw some tight matches as the crews battled on the edge of control. One of the closest contests of the day involved an enthralling match between Minoprio and former world match racing champion Magnus Holmberg of Sweden.

There were two lead changes and a wild charge for the finish line under spinnaker as Minoprio came from behind to take victory gun by 4 seconds. 'We were reaching under spinnaker and went to luff Adam and his crew,' said Holmberg. 'However, they just managed to edge ahead at the finish line and that was it. It was a good race.'

'The big problem was the gusts and the windshifts,' said Minoprio. 'We were getting 30-40 degree windshifts with big gusts. In these boats, you have to react very quickly in those conditions to keep control. We were a bit lucky. It was definitely on the edge.'

Emirates Team New Zealand Dean Barker - Omega MR Regatta 2010 - Chris Cameron-ETNZ Click Here to view large photo

Racing is scheduled to resume on the Waitemata Harbour tomorrow.

Skippers who have accepted invitations to compete are: Dean Barker (NZL – Emirates Team New Zealand); Ben Ainslie (GBR – Team Origin); Francesco Bruni (ITA – Azzurra Sailing Team); Sebastian Col (FRA – former Areva Challenge); Karol Jablonski (POL – former Desafio Espanol); Magnus Holmberg (SWE – former Victory Challenge); Chris Dickson (NZL – former BMW ORACLE Racing); Bertrand Pacé (FRA – former BMW ORACLE Racing); Adam Minoprio (NZL – BlackMatch Racing); Torvar Mirsky (AUS – Mirsky Racing Team).

Spectators and fans are able to follow the action live on a dedicated radio station on 103fm organized through RadioLive. International yachtsman and commentator Peter Lester provides expert analysis and blow by blow accounts of the racing.

The Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta is the opening event of the Auckland Festival of Sailing, which comprises a series of on and off the water events. The Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta is followed by the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (where five of the skippers from the Omega regatta will also compete) and by the BMW Sailing World Cup Final. Also part of the festival is the Auckland International Boat Show.

Round Robin One Results after 10 Flights
Ben Ainslie (GBR) 8-2

Dean Barker (NZL) 6-4

Adam Minoprio (NZL) 6-4

Karol Jablonski (POL) 6-4

Bertrand Pace (FRA) 5-5

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) 5-5

Francesco Bruni (ITA) 4-6

Sebastien Col (FRA) 4-6

Chris Dickson (NZL) 3-7

Magnus Holmberg (SWE) 3-7

Today’s matches

Flight Nine of Round Robin One

Jablonski beat Dickson by 8 secs; Barker beat Holmberg by 16 secs; Bruni beat Pace by 17 secs; Ainslie beat Col by 16 secs; Mirsky beat Minoprio by 26 secs.

Flight One of Round Robin Two

Ainslie beat Dickson by 42 secs; Mirsky beat Barker by 25 secs; Col beat Bruni by 29 secs; Minoprio beat Holmberg by 4 secs; Jablonski beat Pace by 9 secs.

by Warren Douglas

Tweet

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=67012

3:55 AM Thu 4 Mar 2010 GMT

Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.

Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.

Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.

Please do not contact Sail-World.com as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.

Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com or Marinebusiness-world.com Contact us .
or complete our feedback form Contact us .
View our Privacy Policy. [Go Home] [ Banner Advertising Specification] [Bot Archive ]

Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our Sail-World news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples