Greek Challenge has encouraging debut in Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

by Pierre Orphanidis, Greek Challenge on 30 Jan 2009
Greek Challenge, the first ever America’s Cup team from Greece, made its debut in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series facing one of the toughest possible opponents. Gavin Brady and the rest of the Greek Challenge crew had the formidable task of racing against the Defender and 2-time winner of the America’s Cup, Alinghi.

The two teams, both sailing Emirates Team NZ boats, entered the start box definitely in an aggressive mood. Greek Challenge managed to put pressure on Alinghi during the entire prestart procedure which, unfortunately, led to a collision. Greek Challenge received a penalty for clipping Alinghi’s stern with their bow. That cost Greek Challenge one penalty point. Still, Brady got the upper hand and crossed the line in the lead.

The penalty apart, the first beat was quite spectacular for the Greek team and both boats were neck and neck. Greek Challenge crossed the starting line on the right side and after a few boatlengths tacked to left. The Greeks had anticipated the left shift and were able to hold the lead halfway up the beat, despite the tacking duel with Alinghi. The sight of the Greek boat racing neck and neck with the Cup holders raised goose bumps amongst the spectators, considering the fact Greek Challenge had only set foot on their first America’s Cup boat two short weeks ago in Valencia.

Master tactician and 4-time America’s Cup winner, Brad Butterworth, had also anticipated the right shift that was about to come and the Swiss managed to sail away and round the first weather mark 16 seconds ahead of the Greeks, still an amazing achievement for the newcomers. From that point, despite their best efforts, Greek Challenge inexorably slipped astern of Alinghi, finishing 2 minutes behind them

For Brady “it was a good race since the main goal was achieved, that is to be better than the day before. The team might not have made as much progress as they would have wished, but the bigger picture was encouraging. The prestart took place under 20 knots of wind, an unknown condition for the Greek crew”.

Sotiris Buseas, CEO of Greek Challenge, stated that “it was a great experience but also a reality check for the future, for things to come and in order to bring us up to the standards of world-class teams such as Alinghi” and congratulated the Defender of the America’s Cup for their victory.

On Saturday, second day of the event, Greek Challenge will face Shosholoza, the South African team led by Italian match-race champion Paolo Cian. It will undoubtedly be another challenging day for the Greeks but they will take one race at a time and sail to the best of their ability. Wind conditions are expected to be lighter, a factor that might favor the Greeks.