Desafio Espanol down to Emirates Team New Zealand

by Desafio Espanol media on 19 May 2007
Desafío Español 2007 lost today in their fourth meeting with the Emirates Team New Zealand, after having defeated them on Wednesday.

The Spanish team were not able to dominate their opponent, their opponent being one of the most experienced teams in the America’s Cup. The results table now stands at one point for the Spaniards and three for the Kiwis.

The pre-start was hard fought and Desafio Español 2007 moved towards the right side of the regatta course, whilst the New Zealand team took the left in a clean start in which the New Zealanders obtained a slight advantage. At the beginning of the upwind beat ESP-97 and NZL-92 were level; however, early in the first part of the leg, a tacking duel commenced in which Desafio Español 2007 fell a length behind their rival. In one of the twenty-six turns, the New Zealand team managed to stretch their initial lead. Continuing to mark the Spanish boat, the New Zealanders stretched their lead to three lengths and as they passed the top marker they had an advantage of 25 seconds.

On the downwind beat, Desafio Español 2007 followed in the wake of their opponent, moving down the right side and avoiding an increase in the distance separating them. Halfway down the leg, the green boat turned their sails, searching for greater wind pressure, a manoeuvre which was responded to by the New Zealanders who did not cease to mark their rival for a moment. As they passed the leeward gate the New Zealanders' lead was half a minute. The Spaniards took the left marker and the New Zealand team launched into marking them on the second upwind beat. Giving no option to the Spanish boat, who fought to recover ground in each manoeuvre, the New Zealand team managed to extend their lead and were ahead by 47 seconds at the top marker. On the last downwind leg, Desafio Español 2007 moved to the left side in search of higher wind pressure but then moved back into the centre and finally crossed the finishing line, having slightly shortened the distance, arriving 42 seconds behind Emirates Team New Zealand.

Tomorrow Desafio Español 2007 will have another regatta against the New Zealand team at 15:00 on the North course. This weekend's regattas are decisive for the Spanish syndicate to be able to gain another point in the semifinal results table.

Matt Wachowicz, navigator: 'We are quite happy with the pre-start, we preferred the right and left a little behind because we had to keep our position in order to leave on that side. The two sides were fairly even. Karol placed the boat in the position that we wanted. At the start, after a few minutes the strategists saw that there was more wind lifting on the left, but in the first tacks the course was very even.

We are a very young team and we are realistic in accomplishing our objective which was to qualify for the semifinals. We then set a new target which was to win a regatta in the semifinals and we have now set another one. We always set out to win. We have a good boat, a good crew and the mentality to win.

Each day we get up eager to sail, compete and win the regatta. Tomorrow we will go for it, as we do every day.'

Miguel Jáuregui, 2nd bowman: 'In each tack they have pulled away a little bit and they gave us no option. It is a team against whom we cannot commit any errors, as they are very solid and maintain the perfect distance to pull ahead.'

This morning the Secretary of State for Sports, Jaime Lissavesky, visited the Spanish team's base. Lissavesky took the opportunity to greet the crew and encourage them for the future regattas.