America's Cup- Two wins- 'A good solid day, not perfect but solid'

by Rod Davis and Warren Douglas on 13 Apr 2012
Emirates Team New Zealand is leading on points after four fleet races at the America’s Cup World Series Naples regatta.

Coach Rod Davis blogs on Day 2 of the Naples regatta

Day 2 dawned with a very different look to the first day of racing, 8-11 knots and smooth seas, almost perfect conditions. It started with match racing for six teams, but not for Emirates Team New Zealand. As the number one seed we had a bye and start our match racing tomorrow. Sitting out a race is something of a double-edged sword; crews are more rested but go into their first race cold.

Good news! Dean gets a glamour start and leads alll the way around the track to wins by more than two minutes. Race two was much the same, we lead at the first gate and extend the lead for the second gun of the day.

Jeremy Lomas is was feeling pretty good about himself, as after replacing Winston Macfarlane who was injured after race one yesterday, Jero logged three wins from three races.

The last race of the day, is a race that does not officially exist. It’s the race that would take the place of the final race on Sunday, if for any reason the final race can’t be sailed. We sure hope it stays in the can of the TV files because, for us, it was not a race to remember

We still are not 100% satisfied with our up-wind speed, so there is a big push to improve on that front. We know where we want to go, so now we need to make it happen.

All and all a good solid day, not perfect but solid.

Here's how the ETNZ team reported it:

Starting the day equal first with Oracle Racing 4, Barker began where he left off yesterday - with a win.

The team’s scoreline for Naples reads 8,10,10,10, which translates to 38 points on the regatta leader board, nine ahead of Oracle Racing 4, skippered by James Spithill.

Skipper Dean Barker said the team’s crew-work today was excellent. 'I think we stepped up from yesterday.

'With conditions sharply different from yesterday – eight to 12 knots and flat water – life on board was much easier and we made the most of it. The boys we slick in all the manoeuvres and boat speed felt good.'

Today’s first race saw Emirates Team New Zealand get away cleanly and lead around the first mark, get clear air and sail away. Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies, Jeremy Lomas and James Dagg were never troubled.

They sailed a faultless race, extending on every leg and finished 2m27s ahead of Luna Rossa P with a procession following in quick succession – Artemis 2m33s and Oracle Racing 5 2m45s.

The second race was almost a carbon copy of the first with the exception of the placings at the first mark. Emirates Team New Zealand was second around, chasing Luna Rossa Swordfish.

On the run they rolled the Italians rounded the leeward gate in first place and were never headed. At the finish Barker was 45s ahead of the Luna Rossa S with Luna Rossa P 1m16s.

Leader board after four races.

Emirates Team New Zealand – 38pts
Oracle Racing 4 - 29
Luna Rossa Piranha- 27
Team Korea – 27
Energy Team - 25
Luna Rossa Piranha – 27
Oracle Racing 5 – 16
Artemis Racing – 12
China Team – 4