LV Act 8, Day 4- USA-76 scores in unstable wind

by BMW Oracle Racing Media on 3 Oct 2005 BMW Oracle Racing scored back to back wins in the Trapani Louis Vuitton Act 8 regatta off Sicily today in tricky conditions that had the afterguards working hard to formulate tactics in constantly shifting winds.

In the opening race of the day, USA-76 took out a comfortable victory over the China Team, which had to complete a penalty turn after losing a man overboard on the first downwind leg. The second match of the day against the Swedish Victory Challenge team was much more close-fought. In very shifty breeze, the advantage switched from one side of the track to the other and USA-76 defended its lead all the way round the course.

Today’s results put USA-76 on equal points with Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand, 1pt behind Alinghi.

Race One summary (USA-76 vs CHN-69):

After a split-tack start with USA-76 going across the line on starboard tack at the pin end of the line, the BMW ORACLE Racing team was quick to establish control over the China Team. On the first windward leg USA-76 maintained a close cover on CHN-69 to lead around the mark by 27 seconds. Downwind, USA-76 immediately began to stretch into a comfortable lead when there was drama on the Chinese yacht as they lost a man overboard. The crewman was quickly recovered and placed back on board, but at the cost of a penalty. USA-76 continued to stretch its advantage all the way around the course and finally won by 3 minutes 22 seconds.

Race Two summary (USA-76 vs SWE-63):

Very shifty breezes towards the end of the afternoon kept this battle close, but USA-76 held the Swedish Victory Challenge team at bay to complete the day with back to back wins. In the starting sequence, Chris Dickson and his USA-76 afterguard fought for and captured the favoured left hand side of the course, but trailed the Swedish team across the line by about half a boat length. Using the left hand windshifts to advantage, USA-76 quickly established control on the upwind leg and led around the windward mark by 19 seconds.
With the advantage switching from one side of the track to the other in the unstable breeze, SWE-63 kept the action close and the deltas as the subsequent mark roundings were 22 seconds and 21 seconds respectively. On the final run to the finish USA-76 protected its lead, matching the Swedish attack gybe for gybe to take the win with a 19 second margin.

Quotes from Peter Isler, USA-76 navigator:

‘The wind in the second match was very unstable. The course was set at 200° and we saw the wind go as far left as 155° and right at the finish it was as far right as 220°. For the afterguard, there were a lot of tough decisions to make. It was not favouring one side or the other. We wanted the left side at the start and the left actually improved during the pre-start, so we fought hard for that. The wind strength was also unstable. We started the race in 16 knots and it went down to less than 10 at one point. We know how potent the Swedish boat is in anything under 12 knots of wind. It was fun to hold them out like that in a close battle. We were relishing that. It was a good day at the office.’

Team Standings:
Alinghi 7pt
BMW ORACLE Racing 6pt
Luna Rossa Challenge 6pt
Emirates Team New Zealand 6pt
K-Challenge 5pt
Victory Challenge 3pt
Desafio Espanol 2007 3pt
Team Shosholoza 2pt
United Internet Team Germany 1pt
Mascalzone Latino Capitalia 1pt
China Team 1pt
+39 Challenge 1pt

Source: www.bmworacleracing.com