Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Louis Vuitton Cup- Not only history repeats - Finals, Race 6

by Bob Fisher on 24 Aug 2013
Emirates Team New Zealand crosses the finish line to win Match Race 6 at the Louis Vuitton Cup finale on August 23, 2013 in San Francisco California. SW

As the America’s Cup moves into its 163rd year (America won at Cowes on 22nd August 1851), there was a degree of inevitability about the result of the sixth race of the Louis Vuitton Cup final.

Held in 13-17 knots of south-westerly breeze, Emirates Team New Zealand totally dominated her opponent, Luna Rossa, finishing almost two minutes in front over the ten-mile course.

Luna Rossa entered the starting area on port tack, and with the given ten-second advantage, crossed the bows of the Kiwi boat quite easily. But there the advantage stopped. Skipper Dean Barker and tactician Ray Davies set up Emirates Team New Zealand to windward with a minute to go. 'We identified very early that we wanted to start to windward,' said Barker after the race.

Chris Draper, the British helmsman of the Italian boat, said later: 'The cold reality is that they [the Kiwis] are going to sail past us whatever we do.' He and his team know that their boat is a first-generation model of the New Zealand boat, and that they are behind in the development due to the constraints of time. There seems to be a noticeable lowering of the shoulders of the men in the shiny silver Prada sailing suits.

After the race, grinder Nick Hutton admitted the frustration, saying of the team’s members: 'We are all winners in this sport, we do a lot of it, and when you are behind at the reach mark, it’s not good for you.' It would be true to say that rounding the first mark behind would destroy some of the driven intensity of any top-class crew.

From the start, Emirates Team New Zealand bolted. Barker’s timing of the acceleration – going from eight to almost forty knots in five seconds – was critical and the Kiwis crossed the starting line flat out. By the time they rounded the first mark the gap between the boats was 10 seconds and ETNZ was nursed almost immediately into a foiling gybe and away on the downwind leg.

ETNZ gained, almost certainly through better gybing, and started the upwind leg 50 seconds in front. The upwind leg was difficult. 'There were huge wind shifts,' said Barker, 'It was more round to the left, coming off the [City Front] shore,' he explained, 'and that makes it harder on the crew.'

At the top mark, ETNZ had increased her lead by 26 seconds and picked up another 31 by the bottom mark. Reaching fast to the finish the Kiwis were 1’57' clear at the end of the race and now lead by 5 – 1 in the first-to-seven wins final.

'We need to race when the breeze is up,' declared Barker and this was echoed by skipper Max Sirena: 'We were in the crossover range today – we are better when it blows harder.' Luna Rossa did record the fastest time on the course of 39.33 knots to ERNZ’s 37.28. Tomorrow the Italians may get what they want. The forecast is for winds close to the upper limit, most certainly for the second race, but with the scoreline where it is, the Italians could wait in the hope that Aeolus smiles on their endeavours.






Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERRooster 2025Armstrong 728x90 - HA Foil Range - BOTTOM

Related Articles

Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul
British Classic Week day 4
It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for the OneSails inshore race It was a classic Solent day in Cowes for day 4 of British Classic Week with hot temperatures, sunshine and no breeze in the morning before the sea breeze kicked in from the west and it was time to go racing.
Posted on 10 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 5
Finalists locked in for new Medal Series format With the sea breeze stubbornly refusing to make an appearance, Day 5 of the iQFOiL World Championship turned into a long waiting game both ashore and on the water.
Posted on 10 Jul
Jazz Turner Video Interview
How she Faced Everything And Rose during Project FEAR I travelled to Brighton Marina to catch up with Jazz, talking about her own sailing, the challenges she faced during the circumnavigation, how the money raised will be used, and a glimpse of her future projects!
Posted on 10 Jul
CYCS SailMV's Vineyard Cup Preview
The regatta will feature stunning classics racing around the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. The second Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) event of the 2025 season gets under way on Friday, July 11 with the Vineyard Cup organized by Sail Martha's Vineyard (SailMV).
Posted on 10 Jul