Victory Challenge sure they can do it

by Bert Willborg on 8 May 2007 Victory Challenge today took its fourth win in a row in the challenger’s series, the Louis Vuitton Cup, by beating Desafío Español – by seven seconds. Thus there is still hope of reaching the semi-finals, with only two days remaining in the round robins. Tomorrow, Emirates Team New Zealand awaits. 'I’m absolutely sure we can beat them,' says Santiago Lange, traveller on Järv (SWE 96).

There is a restrained joy – and no victory celebrations – on the base after today’s win against Desafío Español. Everyone knows that only the first of what may be the three toughest days in the team’s history has been as successful as everyone predicted this morning.

Everyone knows that tomorrow’s opponent, Emirates Team New Zealand, may be even harder and that yet another match remains for Victory Challenge on Wednesday, against Mascalzone Latino. Victories in both matches are necessary for Magnus Holmberg and his crew to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

To achieve that aim, Desafío Español must also lose its two remaining matches, against BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge.

Tonight there is only one thing that the team is preparing for – and that is tomorrow’s match against Emirates Team New Zealand:

'We are still improving. We are sailing very well. We almost beat Oracle, and I think we have a good chance of winning tomorrow. We will certainly fight,' says Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman.

That was the last time that Victory Challenge lost a match, against BMW Oracle Racing, by 14 seconds, on 2 May, after having been in the lead up until the windward mark after the final beat.

This evening Magnus Holmberg is also relieved at not needing to go to a jury hearing. In the end Desafío Español did not submit a protest against Victory Challenge, who was forced to drop the spinnaker in the water at the rounding of the leeward gate after the first run:

'There is always a risk with a protest hearing, even if we felt pretty confident. We did what we could to retrieve the spinnaker, but in the end there was no possibility. Both for them and for us, it's probably better to have the rest of the night to prepare for tomorrow's racing, instead of spending it in a protest hearing,' says Magnus Holmberg.

Today, against Desafío Español, Järv was in the lead for the entire match and rounded the windward mark for the first time with a 22-second lead, was still 15 seconds ahead at the leeward gate and had a 20-second lead at the final windward mark. However, the winning margin was only seven seconds.

'The Spanish did a great job downwind, they are very strong downwind in both boat speed and manoeuvres. But the whole of Victory Challenge did a great job holding them back on that part of the leg,' says Santiago Lange.

'I was never worried, I was sure we would win the race. For sure it was a close race, but I was sure we had enough lead to win it.'

Magnus Holmberg:

'It was of course a great feeling to win. It was a tough race and we needed to fight really hard to win.'

After Mascalzone Latino today lost to BMW Oracle Racing, Victory Challenge is at least fifth in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

This is what the points table looks like with two flights to go:
1. BMW Oracle Racing, 35 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand, 34
3. Luna Rossa Challenge, 31
4. Desafío Español, 29
5. Victory Challenge, 26
6. Mascalzone Latino, 20
7. Team Shosholoza, 18
8. Areva Challenge, 15
9. +39 Challenge, 8
10. United Internet Team, 5
11. China Team, 3.

The four best teams go on to the semi-finals that begin on next Monday. The one in first place choose its opponent for one semi-final. The two others sail in the other semi.

The semi-finals are decided as the best of nine matches.


Three of the teams have already qualified: BMW Oracle Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge.

Six teams already know that they are out on Wednesday: Mascalzone Latino, Team Shosholoza, Areva Challenge, +39 Challenge, United Internet Team and China Team.