America's Cup Race 2 - Alinghi penalised, BMW Oracle blasting ahead

by www.Sail-World.com on 15 Feb 2010 Sail-World.com is constantly updating as the race unfolds
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In 2003 Ernesto Bertarelli and his New Zealand tight five lead by Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth sailed a monohull Alinghi beat the New Zealanders to win the 31st America's Cup. In 2007 the Swiss syndicate won the 32nd series.

Today the Golden Gates Yacht Club's challenger, Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing USA-17 is blasting to victory in the 2010 series.

An even more exciting day of racing, right from the starting box.

Alinghi were penalised for an early entry into the box. Helmsman Jimmy Spithill push Bertarelli and his Alinghi crew around the box. BMW Oracle away fast heading left under pressure. Alinghi slow off the start, going towards the right.

BMW Oracle tacked to port, back into the centre of the course, she was 350 metres ahead, a mile and half across the course. BMW Oracle has more pressure, she has extended her lead to 500 metres.

But Alinghi has tacked back on starboard, on a shift, this will be the first cross in the 2010 America's Cup. Loick Peyron on the Alinghi helm. BMW Oracle blinked they tacked away. Alinghi had found the shift and she was in the lead by 75 metres.

Alinghi was sailing much much better than in race one. It seems she had a more powerful main and possibly has the leeward hull loaded with water. Alinghi's lead extended to 500 metres, as she headed towards the top mark, she has made big gains on the right, with a 15-20 degree right hand shift.

Alinghi sailing much better today, helmed better with her windward hull steadily 3-4 metres above the water. Her lead widened to 600 metres, but the breeze clocked back left and the lead reduced to 200 metres.

The pressure was increasing as the two boats headed towards the top mark, with another 10 degree shift to the right. Then a shift back to left as the two boats closed on the first rounding mark.

BMW Oracle was first to the port layline, while Alinghi kept sailing to the mark on starboard, but her lead was down to 50 metres., then a puff on the right.

Alinghi has crossed ahead of BMW Oracle by 100 metres. A very slow tack by Alinghi and BMW Oracle ran down her rival to round 28 seconds ahead of Alinghi.

Down the first reach, BMW Oracle began to extend her lead 400,500,600,700,800.900.1000,1100 metres.

The Wing is King again. BMW Oracle was hitting 30 knots in eight knots of breeze.

Behind her Alinghi's windward hull kept dipping in the water.

Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle's USA-17 was blasting down the leg, consistently two knots faster, her lead was soon out to 1600 metres. She hit a top speed of 33 knots down the 13 nautical mile reach and extended out to 2100 metres.

Down the run, with the sun setting Alinghi tried everything but she could not claw back that lead.













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(Sunset is at 1838 today - in this breeze, the 39 nautical mile race may yet finish in the dark.)

Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts still on board BMW Oracle.

According to Italy's largest sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, if BMW Oracle wins the America's Cup in Valencia, Mascalzone Latino will become the Challenger of Record and the 34th America's Cup match will take place in Newport, Rhode Island in 2013.

Alessandra Pandarese, Mascalzone Latino's legal counsel, is reported to currently be aboard Larry Ellison's Rising Sun, in order to present the challenge, if and when USA crosses the finish line ahead of Alinghi 5.

While America's Cup Race 2 was expected to have started by now - but has now been held over. Possibly the start will be at the top of the next hour - to 16:06 pm CET (15:06am GMT) 10:06am US EC 7:06am PST, 02:06amm AEST, 04:06 am NZ time, as the breeze transitions from the northerly morning breeze to the afternoon southerly.
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Its certainly going need something close to a miracle or a major equipment failure for the Alinghi team to come back from what was really around a 10 minute trouncing into race one.

Sail-World will document the race as it unfolds and then it will provide detailed race post race analysis after the race.

There will be two feeds to watch Here is the BMW Oracle live Here is the Youtube feed

Right now here is the BMW Oracle Race Day 2 program




Here are highlights from Race One