ML and Victory fight for their lives. If TNZ beats Orace, then traffic at top, with fourth placer battling it out in RR2 agianst winner of ML-Victory.
ML, starts on port but aims for the left. Staying close with lots of tacking - three *dozen*. Satisfaction at first marker for ML. Leeward ML builds a gap. Lighter winds seem to be preferred by Victory as they overtake. And so ML closes shop on an entirely bad day. Tactics need reviewing.
Another not-very-clean pre-start for LR... Still a satisfactory run, having a two-boat lead at the first marker. THen, proper management. Somewhat of a surprise to be in second after RR1, following TNZ's loss.
TNZ boxed up at pre-start turn the situation completely around following a Dixon risky decision. But Oracle just has too much speed and overtakes after leeward mark.
* * * Day 2 flight 10 * *
Sailing conditions are on. RR1 matches well scripted with the leaders of ACT positions fighting it out between themselves on the final day.
Spithill enters the box 15 seconds late & ML can thus impose its choice of course & take the lead. And slowly increasing it.
But better execution and good tactics allow LR to creep back into it. Torben reads a leftie properly and it is good night ML!
Which leaves a major surprise: Desafío-LR match worth more than the two points on paper.
Victory shows good tactics in pre-start, but TNZ seemed to insist on the course they want to follow. Still it remains very tight windward. TNZ pulls away leeward.
Desafio is challenging Oracle very hard. Very. They round the first weather mark first! Lead increases to 32 seconds at second mark...
* * * Day 1 * *
Weakening cold front may not provide sufficient wind conditions... South course races moved to north course.
Winds not very sustained and only the races involving the bottom feeders were run. Almost feels scripted: leaving the best for tomorrow.
Flight 10 has duels for all top 6 positions.
The ML-LR derby will be painful. Desafio and ORacle fight it out, while TNZ will try to make up against Victory.
Flight 11 will give a good idea of who has a better chance between LR and Desafio, while ML will try to put breathing space between it and Victory.
|
| Boat | Act | RR1 | RR2 | Total |
| Bmw Oracle | 3 | 18 | | 21 |
| Luna Rossa | 3 | 16 | | 19 |
| Team New Zealand | 4 | 14 | | 18 |
| Desafío Español | 3 | 14 | | 17 |
| Semi-finals Cut |
|---|
| Mascalzone Latino | 2 | 12 | | 14 |
| Victory Challenge | 2 | 12 | | 14 |
| Team Shosholoza | 2 | 10 | | 12 |
| Areva | 1 | 6 | | 7 |
| +39 | 2 | 4 | | 6 |
| Team Germany | 1 | 2 | | 3 |
| China Team | 1 | 0 | | 1 |
|
