The breeze picks up – and NZL 92 picks up two wins

by Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ Media on 25 Apr 2007
The sea breeze returned to Valencia today and NZL 92 welcomed it with two good wins, against France and Spain.

The breeze may have returned but it was still light and it was still shifty but it was stable enough for some good racing.

Racing on the northern course, where NZL 92 was competing, started on time at 2.15pm local time. The breeze across the course was between 7 and 8 knots and at times nudged 9 knots. There was a short delay on the south course.

'It was a day to keep it close and tight,' Grant Dalton said. 'We were up against two good boats and we were not going to give them any leverage in those conditions and leave ourselves open to a small shift doing us any damage.'

'The game plan was to cover, cover, cover and not let the separation get too great. The breeze was reasonably stable but there’s always a chance in the light that the leading boat can fall into a hole and the chasing boat sails around them.'

Dalton said the team sailed well in both races. 'They kept cool when under fire in the pre-starts and tacks and gybes were superb.'

First up, NZL 92 faced off against Areva (FRA 93). Dean Barker and crew clinically set about taking the lead and building on it as the race progressed.

NZL 92 showed some good boat speed and crew work was flawless against an opponent that has showed some good pace in light airs.

With the breeze still light, and recent experience of suffering in adverse wind shifts still fresh in the memory, NZL 92 kept a tight cover on the French and then after taking the first cross and claiming the right, extended to the first mark, rounding 34sec ahead.

NZL 92 extended on the first run, maintaining a loose cover and in the process extended the lead at the first leeward mark to 50sec.

After the second beat, NZL 92 was starting to look more comfortable with a margin of 1.27 and at the finish the delta was 1.55.

In the second race of the day, skipper Dean Barker and tactician Terry Hutchinson wanted the right side of the course and they were prepared to fight to get it. And they.

And while the early advantage went to Spain NZL 92 was soon in command and did not relinquish their grip on the race. NZL 92 was ahead at the first cross and as ESP 97 threw 18 tacks in an attempt to break free. NZL 92 stayed cool and gained relentlessly as the beat progressed.

At the top mark NZL 92 had a solid 31sec advantage. A clean hoist and NZL 92 started to extend downwind and at the first leeward mark the margin was 46sec.

The second beat was almost a repeat of the first, although the separation was great. ESP 97 again threw tack after tack, NZL 92 stayed in phase and held a 47 sec advantage at the top mark.

At the finish NZL 92 was 1.12 ahead.


TOMORROW’S WEATHER:

North-east breeze 5 – 9 knots. Sunny with some high cloud. Humidity 45 Temperature 11-24 degrees.

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 four
GER 89 beat CHN 95 +4.01
ITA 94 beat RSA 83 +36s
USA 98 beat SWE 96 +1.18
NZL 92 beat FRA 93 +1.51
ESP 97 beat ITA 99 +1.55
+39 Challenge a bye

Flight five
RSA 83 beat CHN 95 +2.05
NZL 92 beat ESP 97 +1.12
SWE 96 beat GER 89 +56s
USA 98 beat ITA 94 +6s
ITA 99 beat ITA 85 +1.12