Canada's Cup - Canada wins today, but U.S. still leads 4-2
by Beth Paul on 17 Oct 2010
Canada’s Cup 2010 AJ9D4901 Chicago Match Race Center
Canada's Cup - Anyone skeptical of Canada’s ability to come back from being down 3-0 after yesterday’s first day in the 2010 Canada’s Cup would have to be convinced today, as Grant Hood’s challenging Vincere team from the Port Credit YC went 2-1 on the day against the U.S., represented by Don Wilson’s Team Chicago Match Race Center.
This takes the overall score to 4-2 with one day of racing left tomorrow, so the Canadians must win the first match to stay alive in the first-to-five point series held at the Chicago Match Race Center (CMRC). Racing in this year’s Canada’s Cup is in Farr 40 class yachts.
With the breeze in the southwest at 12-20 knots, the seas were much flatter than yesterday but its offshore direction made for many wind shifts to pass – or be passed.
'I occasionally felt nervous,' said Hood, 'but my goal for today was to make sure that we would be racing on Sunday, and we achieved that. We were much happier to see the flatter water conditions for control in the pre-starts and dial-ups.'
Hood and his team came out swinging, winning the first match by taking control of the pin end at the start, defending the left side of the course, and taking and defending an early lead earned from a left shift on the first windward leg. Repeated attempts by the U.S. to attack failed as the Canadians won the match by 42 seconds, taking the score to 3-1.
In the second match, the action got fast and furious when the two teams took respective sides of the course then came back at each other on the shifts, with the lead changing repeatedly on the first beat. But the U.S. got the last shift at the top and led around the top mark, and despite repeated charges on the remainder of the race, the Canadians were unable to get to within striking range, so the U.S. now took the score to 4-1.
In the last match of the day, it was all Canada, winning the start with perfect timing off the line and tactician Andy Horton masterfully guiding the team up the first beat in phase with the shifts, to round the top mark by a full minute over the Americans. This lead was extended even further to two minutes by the end to take the score now to 4-2.
'It was really great to see the Canadians take the potential they showed yesterday and put it into play today,' said commentator Scott Dickson. 'It made for some really exciting matches, and we’ll see if they can continue to perform now under pressure to keep their hopes alive to win the remaining three matches they need tomorrow.'
Racing resumes tomorrow, with the starting sequence intended for 1000 CDT.
Shoreside activities on the lakefront including competitor briefings, press conferences, umpire debriefs and awards ceremonies will be held before and after racing in and around the CMRC floating regatta center moored at the North end of Belmont Harbor.
Race tracking will be available on the CMRC website, courtesy of Kattack.
Official Partners of the CMRC include CME Group and the City Inns family of hotels, and NYSE LIFFE is CMRC’s official Boat Sponsor and Line Honors is the Official Clothing Supplier to CMRC.
For more information about the 2010 Canada’s Cup, stop by CMRC or contact CMRC Director of Marketing and Programming Beth Paul on 312-542-1505 or visit www.chicagomatchrace.com.
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