Another two races were scheduled for Emirates Team New Zealand on race day four of the Louis Vuitton Cup, first up against Alinghi Red Bull Racing, followed by American Magic in the last race of the day.

It was a rare, grey sky day in Barcelona on race day four of the Louis Vuitton Cup. 9-12 knots of breeze, which arrived just prior to racing, was “perfect conditions for these boats” according to Coach Ray Davies: 

“Conditions to show case of where we have come with the foiling technology”

After a few days of bottom end winds that have challenged the teams and the race schedule, the two races couldn’t have been more of a contrast for Emirates Team New Zealand. Unfortunately, the first race was handed to the Kiwis as Alinghi Red Bull Racing didn’t make the start in time due to an equipment issue. While the race against American Magic was a hard-fought grind with multiple lead changes, Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line ahead, to notch up its fourth point, to finish 1st equal with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli & INEOS Britannia, at the end the first-round robin.
 

AMERICA’S CUP RACE REPORT:

Race 13: Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Port Entry) vs. Emirates Team New Zealand

A race full of anticipation for both teams with Alinghi Red Bull Racing desperate to score their first point and Emirates Team New Zealand keen to test their boat at race pace. An issue with the mainsail track and the mainsail’s bolt-rope at the hoist before the start sees Alinghi Red Bull Racing forced to return to inside the harbour walls of Port Vell before towing fast out to the course but missing the start completely.

Due to the Swiss not making it back in time, and being outside of the boundary by 100 metres, the Race Committee announced that they had been disqualified but Alinghi Red Bull Racing joined in the race against Emirates Team New Zealand nonetheless for a short while to test their speed. Tough luck for the Swiss. The Louis Vuitton Cup is proving to be very hard on the team. Emirates Team New Zealand look assured in flight as they get some practice in around the racecourse at race pace.

Emirates Team New Zealand beats Alinghi Red Bull Racing (Disqualified)

Race 13: American Magic (Port Entry) vs. Emirates Team New Zealand

This could be one tasty battle with both teams giving zero quarter. At the start it’s a masterclass of textbook match-racing from the two teams on a split tack start with the Kiwis tacking off to take the starboard end of the line and Magic nailing the port end. The Kiwis go right initially and sail into more pressure to be able to make the first cross easily but tack to leebow and bounce the Americans away. However, some brilliant sailing from Magic as the two boats came back together sees the Americans capitalise on a poor leeward tack by the Kiwis to sieze the lead. Magic rounds the first windward mark with a 10 second advantage – top-class boat-on-boat racing from Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison.  Down the first run, both boats sailing low VMG angles with nothing to choose in terms of boatspeed and a slapped-on cover by Magic sees them lead at the leeward mark by 9 seconds.

Emirates Team New Zealand keep it tight up the second beat with both afterguards apparently feeling they are in phase with the breeze, but the Kiwis appear to be making the gains. At the second windward mark both boats come in from alternate laylines and round with the Americans now just 5 seconds ahead and an initial split in tactics on the downwind leg.

At the first cross its super-close with Magic just ahead with the starboard advantage. All about breeze lines now and the Kiwis click into some nice pressure out left (looking downwind) and come back with starboard advantage to seize a slender lead before soak down to the final leeward gate with an eight second advantage. Kiwis are flying. Magic forced into a really slow tack around the gate to try and get clear which is ignored initially and then the Kiwis slap on a tight in-the-face cover on to secure their lead that is now in excess of 100 metres. Ruthless, merciless sailing now from Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge.

At the final windward mark, after a terrific beat playing the shifts supremely, ‘Taihoro’ dials away onto the run to the finish with an enhanced delta of 16 seconds. Magic has a loose rounding and are on the back-foot whilst the comms onboard ‘Taihoro’ are clipped and professional. No mistakes, Emirates Team New Zealand are mighty, taking the win by 29 seconds. Superb racing to close out the opening Round Robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand bt NYYC American Magic by 29 seconds

The racing across the fleet is stepping up, getting closer and more intense as each day of round robin racing progresses.

For the challengers, it is a fight for points at the top of the table, and a battle for survival at the bottom. For Emirates Team New Zealand, every race is valuable.

“I thought we had final figured out our first shift to get the lead, but it kept going left up that first beat. You don’t want to be behind, but nice to get an overtake as well. The boat feels great, exactly like we left it. We are all incredibly fortunate how little damage there actually was. We are just really lucky with where the impact was and that the cradle took a lot of the impact.” said Skipper Peter Burling.