Cup Spy: Valencia Revisited - Louis Vuitton Cup - Day 2 - One real race, one Ghost race
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 30 Aug 2024 10:01 PDT
30 August 2024
Alinghi Red Bull Racing in the Barcelona Doldrums while American Magic foils at 25kts less than a mile away at the top of the course - Louis Vuitton Cup - Day 2 - Barcelona - August 30, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America's Cup
Those who have longer memories than most will recall the early days of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup, held along the coast in Valencia.
Then first week of Round Robin 1 was effectively abandoned after a large area of high pressure parked nearby bringing light winds, and headaches for the Race Committee.
Today, the second day of the Challenger Selection Series in Barcelona brought back memories of Louis Vuitton Cups past.
But that was in early April, late August was expected to be better.
Today only one race was completed out of the four scheduled. That stretched out to be almost 32 minutes long, with some doubt that a boat which had at times been hitting speeds of 25-30kts would be able to finish within the 45minute time limit.
After shortening the windward leg, the Race Committee shortened the course from six legs to four, virtually assuring American Magic of their first race point.
Two of today's races featured Emirates Team New Zealand, which was a no-show after being dropped following a mechanical failure on the launch crane yesterday.
The first of these featured INEOS Britannia, who when the breeze did finally puff up to make grade for the required five minutes before a start to proceed, crossed the start line with a perfectly timed run. A few boatlengths down the track the Race Committee called up saying Emirates Team New Zealand had "retired", and the race was awarded to Brits, and they lead the overnight points table.
The day was notable for the first and hopefully only Ghost Race, of the series, when INEOS Britannia started alone in their scheduled race with Emirates Team New Zealand, while the Kiwi boat underwent emergency surgery after being dropped six metres by the launch crane.
Many have opined that as the Defender of the America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand should not be participating in the Challenger Selection Series.
Today the Challenger Selection Series was a Defender-free zone, and the nay-sayers had their moment of peace.
But instead of being sidelined for a week or out of the Louis Vuitton Cup completely, team boss Grant Dalton, in an early morning live interview broadcast on primetime evening news in New Zealand, that despite their worst fears in the aftermath of the crash, the Kiwis had a few lucky breaks and the boat was expected to be repaired and racing tomorrow, Saturday.
Like much of yesterday, today's big question was how to stay foiling.
American Magic did not repeat their start line woes of Day 1, when they came off their foils a minute before the start of Race 3 against INEOS Britannia and started 700 metres behind the Brits.
Today it was Alinghi Red Bull Racing's turn for displacement sailing, and the hapless Swiss just could not win a trick - occasionally foiling, but then hitting another flat spot in the light south easterly breeze, and could but watch the team from New York Yacht Club sail off into the distance. Eventually the US boat was caught with a dying breeze but only on the closing stanzas of Leg 4, and struggled for about the last half mile of the course. Eventually they came to tactical conclusion that making VMG in the direction of that mark at 8-10kts was a better option than foiling back and forth across the course trying to keep the AC75 of its foils.
Their changed strategy paid off, much to the relief of those agonizing in he chase boat.
Not happy with having the race awarded to them by default, INEOS Britannia stayed on their foils for several minutes after their call-up by the race committee. For a team which had struggled to get foil-borne in similar conditions in Auckland three years ago, the Brits looked impressive. Many have difficulty getting their heads around the design of their plump AC75, but it seems to work well enough, and they seemed to enjoy their solo sail.
Tomorrow will be another matter completely, with more lightmares on offer.
Shore team willing the Defender should also again be back amongst the Challengers.
Six races are scheduled.
Race Summaries:
The Start delayed several times and got away at 1226hrs UTC
Race 5: American Magic vs Alinghi Red Bull Racing
Alinghi Red Bull Racing fell off foils before start and started 550metres astern of American Magic.
Mark 1: 4m 13sec USA leads SUI by 1m 27sec 800metres on water. Course shortened twic with the boats on Leg 2 to 1.1nm
Mark 2: 8m 44sec USA leads SUI - drops off the foils during Mark rounding. Swiss speed down to 6kts at Mark and lower. USA comes off foils briefly further up Leg 3, bur recovers.
Mark 3: 15m 49 sec USA Leads SUI by 15m 27sec. Both boats off foils USA on Leg 4, Sui on Leg 3. Course shortened to finish at Mark 4. USA foiling and landing going from 23kts down to 10kts. USA foiling at 30kts, while SUI are becalmed. SUI get a boundary penalty - wiped under the "Advantage Rule".
Boats back up to 30kts (SUI) at top of course and USA at 25kts at the bottom trying to make the finish.
Mark 4: 31m 54sec American Magic crosses finish line at 31m 54sec and Alinghi Red Bull Racing brings the breeze down the track to finish 2m 58secs astern.
Race 6: INEOS Britannia vs Emirates Team New Zealand.
INEOS Britannia crossed the start line in their uncontested race against Emirates Team New Zealand. The New Zealand boat was announced as "Retired" and the race , which carried no points, was awarded to the British team.
Race 7 did not get underway after several delays to the start time due to the wind dropping below the required minimum measurement.
Louis Vuitton Cup Points and Leaderboard after Day 2
Series format
There are two phases of Round Robin racing, four races are scheduled to be sailed, with six teams competing and two of those will be sailing twice. The day's pairings can reread from the graphic below.
Weather Prognosis:
America's Cup Weather Partner PredictWind has provided a dedicated Race Weather Center offering fans access to detailed daily weather breakdowns, live webcams and historical weather data to daily weather breakdowns written by meteorologists.
Friday 30th Aug
We will see similar conditions to the previous day. During the early afternoon winds from the East will blow around 6 to 9 knots. The wind direction is expected to turn right during the afternoon and to end up with a South-East direction with similar wind speed. Sea state will remain calm. It will be partly cloudy with temperatures reaching 26°C over the water and 29° over land.
Saturday 31st Aug
In the afternoon, winds from the East around are expected around 8 to 10 knots.
Forecast Race Day 2:
Course Location:
Crew Lists: