AC45 Port Cities Challenge at San Diego - Day 1
by ORACLE Racing and Artemis Racing 13 Nov 2011 19:49 AEDT
ORACLE Racing battles rivals, elements in Port Cities Challenge (from ORACLE Racing)
ORACLE Racing’s two crews in the America’s Cup World Series San Diego contended with their rivals on the racecourse and rainy weather conditions on Day 1 of the Port Cities Challenge.
With the wind swinging through every point of the compass rose, ORACLE Racing Coutts scored a 4-2 and ORACLE Racing Spithill a 3-8 as the two crews continued their preparation in this practice regatta towards Wednesday’s official start to the third round of the America’s Cup World Series.
“It was good to get out there and get a couple of races, despite the weather,” said skipper Jimmy Spithill. “We had a good one in the first race and broke the start in the second and had to fight our way back. But it was good fun to get a couple of races done.”
In addition to the steady rain today’s racing was marked by very light winds. The first race was designed to last approximately 40 minutes but more than one hour had elapsed by the time the first boat crossed the finish line.
The wind strength was more consistent for the second race, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, but the rain still fell. While Spithill was an early starter in the second race ORACLE Racing Coutts started early in the first race when the wind was less than 5 knots.
“I think it was a pretty good first day,” said ORACLE Racing Coutts skipper Darren Bundock. “Despite the weather I think it was a solid day for us to get a 4-2. I’m still getting used to the boat and team, but all in all I think it was pretty good for us.”
Bundock, who joined the team over the summer, is subbing for Russell Coutts as the team begins to rotate sailors in preparation of its defense of the America’s Cup. Bundock is a lifelong multihull sailor with two Olympic medals who’s enjoying his new ride.
“You don’t need much breeze to get the hull out and the boats are very reactive,” said Bundock. “It does get to the point where it’s a little bit tricky but good sailors have to deal with it and usually you find that the good teams come out on top.”
Three fleet races are planned tomorrow and racing is scheduled to begin at 1:10 pm local time.
Torrential rains in San Diego (from Artemis Racing)
Torrential rains were the order of the day in San Diego as the racing got underway this afternoon.
In extremely fluky conditions, Artemis Racing took the first win of the event in what was a race of snakes and ladders. Then in the second race, the Swedish team finished fourth, to claim second place overall on count back for the day, tied on points with Emirates Team New Zealand.
Commenting on today’s racing Skipper Terry Hutchinson said, “It was about being in the right place at the right time today. It was a bit cold and wet. They say it is never like this here so it is good to get this out of the way this weekend!”
“Days like today are very good practice and training. That is what it is all about. We also continue to be mindful of how good the people are around us. We have two new guys on the boat here as part of our ongoing crew rotation plan, so it is as much about racing the AC45 as it is about preparing for the America’s Cup in San Francisco.”
Racing continues tomorrow at 1300 PST.