Valencia, 03 07 2007
America’s Cup Match by Louis Vuitton.
Alinghi.
©ACM 2007/Photo:Guido Trombetta
Swiss Team Alinghi has won the 7th match sailing race from Emirates Team New Zealand with only 1 second delta!
As this is their fifth win in a best of 9 contest, they have won the 32nd America’s Cup for the second consecutive time.
Quote from the official 32nd America’s Cup Official Website:
This final race of the America’s Cup was befitting of what has been the closest, most exciting America’s Cup in recent history. Emirates Team New Zealand spent much of the race ahead on the advantage line, but with Alinghi in strong tactical position on the right hand side of the race course. The Kiwis were never able to get a big enough lead to cross ahead and switch sides.
After making a pass on the first run and leading through the leeward gate by 14 seconds, Emirates Team New Zealand again found it couldn’t get across the bow of SUI 100 on the second upwind leg.
With both boats approaching the top mark separated by just a few meters, the Kiwis, approaching from the left on port tack, faced Alinghi roaring in on the privileged starboard tack. Both boats went into a ‘dial-down’ and the Umpires penalized the port tack NZL 92 crew for not keeping clear of Alinghi. That, effectively, was the race. Alinghi rounded the top mark ahead by 12 seconds and looked secure for the win.
But then, an enormous wind shift saw Emirates Team New Zealand able to lay finishing line which was now upwind. As Alinghi struggled to drop its spinnaker, the Kiwis turned into tack to fulfill its penalty obligation. Now down speed, the Kiwis could only watch in horror as Alinghi slid across the line, just one second ahead.
Added July 4:
And I was right by just one second.
which reminds me to just 2 suites….
Ask me why.