America's Cup Race Alinghi wins race three by 23 seconds

by Rob Kothe on 18 Feb 2003 Alinghi wins Race three and are now 3-0 in the series. It was the first shift on the first leg that decided the race. Butterworth took Alinghi to the right and they picked the decisive shift which was the boat race.

In reverse time order, here is the story of the race.

13:21 Alinghi wins by 23 seconds.

13:19 Brad Butterworth says its One & in for Alinghi

13:16 Team NZ has gybed back to Alinghi's line. They are still 140 metres behind. There is only 1500 metres to the finish of race 3

13:12 Alighi is still leading by 110 metres. She can't be better from her. Even the Kiwi commentators are agreeing that the Swiss have outsailed them.

13:10 Team NZ has gybed, 150 metres wide of her competitor. Alinghi has covered.

In this steady breeze, with Swiss pointing at the finish line, this is looking like the end of this race for the Kiwis.


13:08 Alinghi is stretching her lead. The two boats are about 13 minutes from the finish line, the Kiwis are running out of runway.

13:04 Team NZ desperately trying to push dirty air onto the Swiss boat. but the lead is now 105 metres and the bars on the Auckland Viaduct have gone quiet.

13:01 Alinghi round with an increased lead 21 seconds. One less tack for Alinghi made the difference.
12:59 Closing on the top mark. Team NZ is running out of time. Alinghi is ahead by two boat length or a little more.

12:57 Breeze up to 19 knots, there is only 10 second in this race, but in stronger conditions that at the top mark will be easier to defend in the stronger conditions than the soft conditions in the last race that saw Alinghi sail thru the Kiwis.


12:55 Both boats continuing to the right. The boats are clearly very even in speed. Only 35-40 metres between them. Maybe a little shift from the left benefiting Alinghi.


12:52 After this long drag race, the breeze has been building. Now the two boats have tacked onto port. in the middle of the course. Amother 6-7 minutes to the top mark.

12:51 Still going the same direction. 40 metres lead only. With Team NZ on the right, thats where the shifts have been coming from. this is a boat race.

12:47 Both boats are now straightlined towards the left layline on starboard. Now a little breeze from the right. Two boat lengths between the boats.

12:44 Team NZ are about 2 lengths behind, as they tacking duel, now up to 10 tacks. Alinghi is protecting the left fiercely, but the shifts have come out of the right, so anything could happen.

This is the do or die leg

12:42 Four tacks now. Team NZ just has to attack all the way up this beat. This could be another 30+ tack leg.


12:40 The delta is 15 seconds. But as the breeze has dropped, Tam NZ has actually gained another boat length.

12:39 The two boats gybed together as they approach the mark. Course change to 353. the two boats will tack together. The drop on Alinghi

12:35 As Team NZ appraoched, Alinghi has gybed to avoid the dirty air again.

12:33 Team NZ is only 50 metres behind, Alinghi might be going some dirty air. Team NZ has now gybed and will cross behind.


12:31 Now Alinghi has gybed, they have good separation. With 11 knots from 340. The boats are now 50 metres behind.

12:29 Both boats on this long port gybe, approaching half way down the run. The sky is clearing so its likely the right is going to pay better on the next beat. Team NZ is still 80 metres behind. Team NZS has gybed, while Alinghi is continuing on

12:25 Now Team NZ are start to soak down a little. She needs to be placed to leeward to gain on the gybe. The Kiwis are being patient.
12:24 12 knots from 343 Team NZ is not soaking down.

12:21 Both boats bear away set 77 metres between them

12:19 The delta is 17 second, a gain of 3 seconds. Hoisting their asso genny's.

12:17 Closing on the mark, the margin is down to around 50 metres. Two boats lengths, on the right hand lay line.


12:15 Team NZ continuing towards from the right has had better pressure and a shift. She is now 40 metres behind. Alinghi has scambled back to the right. Team NZ is benefiting in every tack.

12:10 Team NZ has tacked back from the left, but seems to be in less pressure. Now Alinghi continuing to the left while the Black Boat is going right. there is about 300 metres across the course, with a shifty breeze.

12:08 Another loose cover as Team NZ has gone left

12:07 Alinghi slower to cover as Team NZ holds out to right. Half way up the second beat.

12:05 Lead down to 75 metres, Team NZ tacking and is reducing the lead. Team NZ has hit a new breze line. Its light ahead. Team NZ are attacking.


12:02 Team NZ now on the right, but Alinghi still covering, lead down to 70 metres.

12:00 Team NZ tries to engage the Swiss in a tacking duel. Alinghi won't play shes continuing left.

11:58 46 minutes into the race. Team NZ tacks to left. Alinghi covers.


11:56 Alinghi leads into leg 3, by 20 seconds.

11:54 Alinghi has gybed back towards the mark, Team NZ has followed. Still 100 metres between the boats.

11:52 Now into the last 1/rd of the run, its clear there is little to separate the boats down wind in 14-17. The hula seems to be making no difference.


11:50 Team NZ has gybed and Alinghi has followed about 5 seconds later. A breeze line is coming down the course, and will boost Team NZ.

11:48 Alinghi got a private gust, its now 17 knots, lead has stretched back to 115 knots
11:46 Team NZ starting to throw a little dirty air toward Alinghi. Breeze still at 14 knots from 340

11:45 Alinghi has gybed, Team NZ followed, the lead is down to 100 metres.

11:43 Puffs coming down the track. Team NZ are trying to get low, hoping to be better placed for an early gybe.


11:40 Team NZ bringing pressure down the course, as they follow Alinghi. Gap now 105 metre

11:38 Alinghi round the mark, the delta is a whopping 28 seconds. The asso's are up on both boats. A little rain squall will cause a shift.
130 metres behind.

11:36 Now approaching the mark, breeze is increasing now 15 knots Team NZ is now in dirty air. Alinghi ready for a bear away set.

11:34 TNZ is left of the layline, about 110 metres between the boats now




11:32 Alinghi has twice pushed NZL82 left, giving them dirty air. But the left has been paying .
Lead down to 3 boat lengths now
11:30 Converging tacks now Team NZ coming in from the left and will cross behind 90 metres behind.

11:29 Team New Zealand has tacked now.

11:28 A small shift coming from the left, they have taken back a length.


11:26 Alinghi now 120 metres ahead, the Kiwi's have no choice but to keep going left waiting for the shift.



11.24 Team New Zealand is just waiting for the shift and are still going left, they will have to go to the layline.

Now 6 boatlengths lead to Alinghi, quarter way up the first leg.

The boats are a couple of hundred metres apart, now the shifts are starting to come from the left.

More pressure still on the right and massive gains for Alinghi. now 100+ metres ahead.

More pressure on the right, Alinghi 45 metres ahead.

Currently 15 knots from the north west, it has built from 12 over the last 20 minutes.

Cloud cover across the race course. Flat seas Winds at 330 at the moment.

Split start. Team NZ on starboard going left, Alinghi going right on port. Alinghi slightly ahead.

Brad Butterworth tacking now in the first shift and has starboard advantage.