Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series - Alinghi wins first race

by Keith Taylor, LVPSMedia and Richard Gladwell, on 13 Feb 2009
Downwind drama for Emirates Team NZ - Race 1 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final Richard Gladwell www.photosport.co.nz

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series – Day 14, 13th February, 2009

Race 1 – Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Trophy

Alinghi beat Emirates Team New Zealand – 0:22s


Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand dominated the challenging Alinghi team in the pre-start in a nice 17-knot south-west breeze. Barker had the favored end and used it to advantage, pinning Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird out above the line on three reaches backwards and forwards, parallel with the line and leaving Baird no escape route.

Barker wanted the left and broke away from a port reach to make a long circling turn below the committee boat and make a high speed start in the middle of the line, conceding an opportunity for Baird to start closer to the committee boat, but with plenty of separation.

The Kiwi boat enjoyed a slight lead for long minutes but any anticipated left shift never materialized and the American boat edged ahead on a small right shift to take control and lead around the rest of the course as the breeze increased to 22 knots.

Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:12 - Alinghi
Mark 2 - 0:20 - Alinghi
Mark 3 - 0:25 - Alinghi
Finish - 0:22 - Alinghi

Race 2 has been delayed due to strong winds - above the informal limit set by organsers to minise gear damage. Backstay alarms could be heard sounding regularly on both yachts, indicating maximum load had been exceeded.

Race Report 1300 hours NZ Time

The south-west breeze today was forecast to top out at 25 knots early this afternoon, and it continued to build after the finish of the first race shortly before 1200. The race committee held off the next start but an hour later it was blowing 28 knots when they hoisted signal flags AP over H, telling the race boats to return to the Viaduct Basin but to remain on hold in anticipation of more racing later this afternoon. The Race Committee will remain on station in the Rangitoto Channel off North Head, monitoring the conditions.

Race Report 1530 hours NZ Time
With the south-westerly still in the high 20s, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio abandoned racing for the remainder of the day. The final has been shortened to a best-of-five series. Racing will resume at 1100 hours tomorrow.







Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Zhik 2024 December

Related Articles

Ponant Sydney Noumea Race Start in Images
A light and variable breeze got the three-boat fleet away in the afternoon light It was a quiet start to the Ponant Sydney Noumea Race, with the fleet the leaving Sydney Harbour in a light and variable breeze. Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert's Wild Thing 100 led the fleet of three down the harbour on a close reach
Posted on 31 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta overall
Southern Wind 100 Agapi Mas awarded the Willy Persico Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous concluded today with another outstanding day of racing. The event is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani.
Posted on 31 May
11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta
FD Future boats join the youth regatta at Seven Star Yacht Club The 2025 11th Shenzhen Dapeng Cup Sailing Regatta kicked off in Seven Star Yacht Club in Shenzhen on the 23rd till the 25th of May. FD Future boats joined the youth regatta with 11 competition groups and more than 80 youth participants.
Posted on 31 May
Countdown begins for the 2025 29er Worlds
At the iconic city of Porto, Portugal The countdown is on! The 2025 29er World Championship will land in the iconic city of Porto, Portugal, with the fleet descending on Marina da Afurada - Douro Marina from 1st-8th August 2025.
Posted on 31 May
Casa Vela Cup 2025 at St Francis Yacht Club Day 3
Pauline Courtois will meet Nicole Breault in the final Defending women's match racing world champion Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink Normandy Elite team from France will meet USA's Nicole Breault/ Vela Racing in the final of the 2025 Casa Vela Cup in San Francisco.
Posted on 31 May
Team Racing Worlds at Newport, RI, Day 2
Consolidation In the Ranks: U.S. Teams Lead A thrilling action-packed series of races on Day 2 of the 2025 Team Racing World Championship saw the three teams representing the United States consolidate at the top of the leaderboard.
Posted on 31 May
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Preview
Getting ready to race at Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona Today (Friday) Galicia's prestigious Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona (Galicia, Spain) hosted the official presentation of the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP, the second scoring event for the 2025 season of the 52 SUPER SERIES.
Posted on 30 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta day 3
No racing due to light wind in Porto Cervo The forecast of very light winds proved to be accurate today as the starting procedure for the third day of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and the Southern Wind RendezVous got under way.
Posted on 30 May
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North.
Posted on 30 May
Tom Gruitt passes away
Sailing photographer, writer, video editor, but most of all, a friend to many Tom Gruitt, photographer, writer, video editor, but most of all, a friend to many, has passed away at the far too young age of 37.
Posted on 30 May