Saturday, June 2, 2007

Luna Rossa loses Friday and Saturday to New Zealand , Down 2-0

New Zealand won the Friday race by 8 seconds, and the Saturday race by 40 seconds in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
The third race will be run Sunday. It is a best of Nine series.
In the First Race: Michele Ivaldi, Luna Rossa’s navigator, commented: " As far as our strategy is concerned, when we entered the pre-start box we didn’t think it was a must have right so we went for best start solution. We also didn’t anticipate a 15 degree right hand wind shift. Emirates Team New Zealand made a better call. Concerning the performance of our boat for having been all day on the left of the guys and with the wind going from 110 to 140 we are pretty happy. Our downwind speeds are pretty similar and the boats are very close. It is going to be a tight race.”
In the Second Race: Luna Rossa wanted the right side and got it but had to pay a heavy price that determined the outcome of the race. With 40 seconds to go before the start, Luna Rossa was on the right but as the two boats sped to the line, Barker made sure it was tough for the Italians squeezing them to the committee boat. Spithill was forced to slow down and Barker crossed the start line 1 second ahead, with greater speed and better positioned. Right after the start Luna Rossa had to tack to the right. This initial speed difference gave the kiwis an advantage of one boatlength they later used to tack to the right as well and cover Luna Rossa.

Halfway up the first beat Luna Rossa started a tacking duel, resulting in 22 tacks but to no avail. Not only didn't they manage to pass or threaten the New Zealanders but they gave them opportunity to built on their lead, rounding the top mark 25 seconds ahead.

In the run, the New Zealanders felt no threat at all and increased their lead again. Luna Rossa tried again to force errors on the kiwi boat by gybing but Emirates Team NZ answered to each and every gybe and rounded the leeward gate 35 seconds ahead of the Italians and their crew execution was impeccable. After 3 years in Valencia, the press on the media boat was still amazed by the speed the kiwi spinnaker dropped and disappeared in the yacht's sewer. Both boats rounded the right buoy and in the second beat New Zealanders kept covering their opponent to death. They gained an extra 4 seconds and rounded the top mark 39 seconds in advance.

The last leg did not offer any excitement and was one sided. Emirates Team NZ crossed the line 40 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa

New Zealand takes 2-0 lead over Italy in Yachting

Honolulu Advertiser From Associated Press Saturday, June 2, 2007

VALENCIA, Spain — Emirates Team New Zealand gave up its right-hand advantage at the start yet beat Luna Rossa of Italy for a 2-0 lead today in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.

Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill engaged counterpart Dean Barker in the start box for the starboard side after coming in from the left. Barker let the more aggressive Spithill take it as both teams tacked across the start.

The Kiwis used a long tacking duel up the first lap to open up a decisive three boat-length lead. They then matched the Italian boat's every move throughout the race to cross the finish line ahead by 40 seconds.

In yesterday's first flight, Emirates Team New Zealand hung on for a narrow eight-second win after Spithill gave up the right-hand advantage to Barker at the start.

The third flight of the best-of-nine final is scheduled for tomorrow with the winner racing defending champion Alinghi in the America's Cup.

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed and are Fully Archived at:
Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com (Formerly Italy at St Louis)
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