Only one race but it is a winner for Emirates TNZ

by Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ Media on 23 Apr 2007
A better day on the water today. First the race committee managed to get off one flight of matches before the breeze died away and racing was abandoned.

And second, NZL 92 racing on the south course, beat +39 (ITA 85) by a more than comfortable 2m 41s.

It was only NZL 92’s second race of the regatta.

Racing started almost on time in 8 knots of breeze, much to the relief of competitors and spectators, who had become used to slow afternoons bobbing on a glassy sea.

NZL 92 won the start and opened an early lead which allowed control of the first beat. A tacking duel was short lived, with NZL 92 gaining each time and at the top mark the margin was 1m 22s.

NZL 92 stayed comfortably in control on the run, maintaining a loose cover and rounded the mark 1m 19s ahead. After the second beat the lead had extended to 1m 29s and at the finish the delta was 2m 41s.

The win may have been comfortable, but conditions on the water were light and tricky, not a day to allow a big separation. 'We covered from the start,' Grant Dalton said. 'We took the lead at the start, won the first cross and then stuck to the basics, always keeping our boat between the Italians and the mark. It’s the only way to keep safe in a breeze that light.'

NZL 92’s race was the last to start and it finished in a fading breeze. ITA 85 had barely crossed the line when the race committee called off racing for the day.

Today's Sailing Team

Skipper - Dean Barker
Tactician - Terry Hutchinson
Navigator - Kevin Hall
Strategist -Ray Davies
Traveller - Mark Mendelblatt
Pit - Barry McKay
Runner/pit- Tony Rae
Mainsail trimmer - Don Cowie
Main grinder - Chris Ward
Trimmer upwind - Grant Loretz
Trimmer downwind- James Dagg
Grinder- Rob Waddell
Grinder- Jono Macbeth
Mast- Matt Mason
Floater- Grant Dalton
Mid-Bow- Richard Meacham
Bow -Jero Lomas

Challenger Sail Numbers

Emirates Team New Zealand – NZL 92
BMW Oracle Racing – USA 98
Luna Rossa Challenge – ITA 94
+39 Challenge – ITA 85
Team Shosholoza – RSA 83
Areva Challenge – FRA 93
Victory Challenge – SWE 96
Desafio Espanol 2007 – ESP 97
Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team – ITA 99
United Internet Team Germany – GER 89
China Team – CHN 95

Today's results Flight three

ITA 94 beat GER 89 +50s
SWE 96 beat CHN 95 +3.50
USA 98 beat RSA 83 +47s
FRA beat ESP 97 +2.06
NZL 92 beat ITA 85 +2.41
Mascalzone Latino a bye