Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 TOP

Louis Vuitton Cup-The Demolition Derby continues in San Francisco

by Bob Fisher on 19 Aug 2013
Team New Zealand with shore crew on board to figure out what happened in race number two at the Americas Cup Louis Vuitton Finale on August 18, 2013 in San Francisco, California. SW

As if the damage inflicted to the boats on the opening day of this possible 13-race series to decide the challenger for the 34th America’s Cup was not bad enough, the decimation continued on the second day.

This time, the biggest sufferer was Emirates Team New Zealand, generally regarded as the bullet-proof boat.

The fragility of the AC-72s arises from the complexity of the operating systems – it is the delicate balance between form and function on the one hand and minimum weight on the other. All parts have to be strong enough to be able to deal with extremes well beyond the norm, but unnecessary weight on a racing multihull is an anathema.

Consequently there will be failures, and generally they will result in the affected boat having to pull out of the race. With two races each day, any failure could be doubly punitive. On the opening day, Luna Rossa was saved from having to claim her one-and-only lay day when the wind over the course exceeded the 21-knot limit.

same was true for the Kiwis on day two, which was just as well for them. There were many more than the nine men of the crew on board the boat, out near the Golden Gate Bridge, when Race Director Iain Murray announced that once more the wind strength exceeded the limit – a 2.7 knot ebb tide did not help either as that has to be added as the important factor is the apparent wind.

The race started normally with Chris Draper in Luna Rossa attempting to gain a 'hook' to leeward of Emirates Team New Zealand. But Barker was sharp enough to repulse this and aimed for the line, arriving marginally ahead of the Italians. The gap between them at the first mark was four seconds – two boat’s lengths.

Downwind, ETNZ drew away to be 23 seconds in front at the second gate. At the end of the next leg, as she approached the windward mark, aided by the strong ebb tide, ETNZ slowed to a stop – the crew had lost the use of the hydraulics that control the daggerboards and foils due to an electronic failure in the system. It was terminal for the Kiwis, and Luna Rossa was soon passing them to leeward and rounding Mark 3.

With a support boat alongside and several of the maintenance crew climbing on to the trampoline to examine the problem, there was no alternative for Barker but to retire from the race and allow Draper and the Luna Rossa crew to finish the race, claim a point and draw level 1 – 1 for the series. It was the first race win in a Louis Vuitton Cup final for this team since 2000.

Earlier in the day, the gremlins struck the defender. As the two Oracle Team USA boats were manoeuvring in the pre-start of their practice race, the port rudder of Ben Ainslie’s boat (the elder of the two) snapped off immediately below the hull. His race was over. The rudder had suffered damage the previous day when Ainslie had snagged the rode of a navigation mark when attempting to avoid a spectator boat. 'It was either the boat or the buoy,' joked Ainslie, 'I think I made the right choice.'

The seemingly superficial damage was repaired overnight and repainted, but no one had suspected the deeper damage. The breakage occurred when the skipper yanked the rudder hard to bear away to go for the start line.





Sea Sure 2025C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Who let the dogs out?
We can tell you who is going to win the 2025 Sydney to Hobart before it is even run! Yes indeed. Who? Now in the canine world there's a thing called, 'Best in Show'. However, right here, right now, out of all the entries, we can tell you who is going to win the 2025 Sydney to Hobart, before it is even run.
Posted today at 9:00 pm
Rolex Middle Sea Race Day 2
Leaders Raise the Tempo The 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race is now over 24 hours in. On the plus side there has been no repeat of last year's heinous first night, and the fleet is making steady progress.
Posted today at 7:41 pm
iQFOiL Youth & Junior Europeans 2025 day 1
Promising breeze, top performances and high expectations as racing gets underway in Sardinia The 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior European Championships officially got under way today in Arzachena, North Sardinia, with 306 athletes from 28 nations ready to battle it out on the pristine waters of this beautiful area.
Posted today at 5:58 pm
18ft Skiff SIXT Spring Championship Race 2
Also the first race of the Club Championship on Sydney Harbour for the Alf Beashel Memorial Trophy After last Sunday's opening race of the season had to be abandoned when 30-knot Westerly winds swept across the course, racing finally got underway when the Australian 18 Footers League sailed for the Alf Beashel Memorial Trophy, on Sydney Harbour today.
Posted today at 7:55 am
Globe40 2025/26 Stage 2 Update
Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium and Credit Mutuel 1 mile apart in the forties The incredible duel between the Belgian and French contenders continues in the forties after 4,890 miles of racing! Late Friday, as they passed Gough Island, Benoit Hantzperg and Renaud Dehareng seemed to have gained a small cushion of miles (28.8)
Posted today at 6:19 am
VX One North American Championship overall
Christopher Alexander dominates final day to win The 2025 VX One North American Championship wrapped up in spectacular fashion at Gulfport Yacht Club, where Chris Alexander, sailing his brand-new boat Counterproductive alongside Ricky Welch and Chandler Self, delivered a final day for the history books.
Posted today at 12:31 am
Rolex Middle Sea Race: Up and running
The fleet departed from Grand Harbour at 11am on Saturday This morning at 11.00, the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race got under way from Grand Harbour. The gathered fleet was gently propelled out of the magnificent amphitheatre, assisted by an easterly breeze that built as yachts closed on the exit to the open sea.
Posted on 18 Oct
iQFOiL Youth & Junior Europeans 2025 preview
306 of Europe's most talented young sailors gather in North Sardinia The stunning waters of North Sardinia are about to welcome the 2025 European Youth & Junior Championships, hosted by Club Nautico Arzachena.
Posted on 18 Oct
46th Rolex Middle Sea Race underway
Competitors tackle the challenging and scenic 606-nautical mile course The 46th edition of one of sailing's great offshore races commenced earlier today from the Maltese capital Valletta. A revered and historic event, the Rolex Middle Sea Race always welcomes an impressive and diverse international fleet.
Posted on 18 Oct
2025 Freestyle Pro Tour Naxos day 2
Foilstyle delivers and tow-in turns up the drama After a lively opening day and a calm morning at the lagoon, the second day of the Freestyle Pro Tour Naxos once again brought light winds to the Aegean.
Posted on 18 Oct