Arzaná City of Venice Trophy - Fast and furious

by Artemis Racing on 14 May 2012 Arzaná City of Venice Trophy races have allowed seven of the nine international teams to prepare for the penultimate America’s Cup World Series event which begins next Thursday.

Huge crowds lined the Grand Canal in Venice this afternoon. With more than 25 knots of breeze it was fast and furious racing for the €50,000 in prize money.

Artemis Racing sailed a solid race, with a clean start and good tactics throughout to win the top prize. Italy's Luna Rossa Pirana and Luna Rossa Swordfish finished second and third respectively.

Plenty of current and tight boundaries, translated into several penalties at the start, but Artemis was unscathed. Then a glitch with the port daggerboard saw Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand roll Artemis, but the Swedish team hit the reset button and made a good recovery to come out on top of the leaderboard.

'Jimmy and the Emirates Team New Zealand guys sailed a good race. The reach into the finish was dodgy. We were certainly in the right place at the right time,' said Skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA). 'It was a narrow course. Nerve wracking, fairly windy and we were in asset preservation mode thinking ahead to next week’s ACWS regatta.'

Commenting on the vast fleet of spectator boats, both yesterday and today, Hutchinson said: 'It’s amazing! The America’s Cup and yachting is alive and well in Italy.'

Racing starts on Thursday for the penultimate America’s Cup World Series event here in Venice. Artemis Racing currently leads the match racing element for the ACWS, while Oracle Team USA Spithill is in combined first place overall (fleet and match racing), one point ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand and Artemis Racing lies in third.

Artemis Racing website