Sail-World.com : Team New Zealand face elimination from the Louis Vuitton Trophy
|
Team New Zealand face elimination from the Louis Vuitton Trophy |
Emirates Team New Zealand and the Russian team Synergy go into the last race of the semi-finals each with zero points.
Both teams were deducted a point after a collision at the end of their second race effectively nullifying two close, exciting encounters.
With one race to sail tomorrow, the winner of that race will win the semi-final and go into the final against either the British TEAMORIGIN or Italian AZZURRA.
Today’s first race had been the match of the regatta. The lead changed three times. After being overtaken on the second downwind leg, ETNZ regained some ground and were able to attack Synergy on starboard, luffing the Russians and snatching the lead and crossing the line 20 sec ahead.
The second race, in a good breeze of 15 – 18 knots, was another spectacular display of match racing tactics
Emirates Team New Zealand incurred a penalty in the pre-start and needed a good 6-7 boat-length lead to do the turn to win.
ETNZ led around every mark and extended to five boat lengths down the second run, but it was not enough.
Dean Barker allowed Synergy to close the gap drawing them in close in an attempt to force an offset penalty. Synergy wouldn’t engage so Barker forced them past the finish line where the collision occurred.
The jury decided that both teams were at fault and each should lose a point.
by Warren Douglas
8:50 PM Fri 20 Nov 2009 GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Team-New-Zealand-face-elimination-from-the-Louis-Vuitton-Trophy/63522
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
Click for further information on
Louis Vuitton Trophy Series
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.) If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side)
click here . For medium sized images (500 pixels long side)
click here .
| |
