China Team takes down the leader

China Team takes down the leader

Valencia, 30 April, 2007 - It was a day of close racing and surprise finishes at the Louis Vuitton Cup where the bottom ranked China Team earned its first win of the competition over the leader, BMW ORACLE Racing, when the American team lost its headsail on the first upwind leg.

That wasn't the only upset of the form guide however. The French Areva Challenge, disappointed with its Round Robin One performance, went out and won its first two matches of Round Robin Two, while +39 Challenge suffered two devastating losses in matches that were desperately close right up until the finishing line.

Conditions on Monday were excellent for racing, with sea breezes of up to 15 knots on both race courses. The wind eased later in the day, but never dropped below 9 knots.

FLIGHT 2

Few would have expected BMW ORACLE Racing, leader after Round Robin One, to fall to the bottom ranked boat, China Team. But after showing better speed in the pre-start and early up the first beat, the headsail pulled out of the headfoil on the American boat. The BMW ORACLE Racing team eventually solved the problem and raised a genoa for the second upwind leg, but by then the deficit was too great, and China Team picked up an unexpected two points.  

The French Areva Challenge led Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team for the entire first beat rounding just 8 seconds ahead at the top mark. Just short of the leeward gate, Areva helmsman Sebastian Col luffed Mascalzone hard and in the process managed to put a penalty on the Italians for failing to keep clear. The Italians slipped around in the process, but were down a penalty. Areva had just pulled ahead by the weather mark where the Italians attempted to get rid of their penalty by luffing the French but the Umpires judged both boats clean. On the final run Mascalzone pulled ahead but not far enough to carry out their penalty turn in time, Areva earning a welcome win.

At the helm of +39 Challenge, Iain Percy did a great job locking Desafío Español 2007 out at the committee boat in their pre-start. The Italian team started ahead and after a prolonged tacking duel up the first beat, +39 sailed the Spanish off to the right side of the course rounding the weather mark 23 seconds ahead. +39 were looking comfortable with a 29 second advantage at the leeward gate until they broke their headsail sheet early on the next beat allowing the Spanish to regain ground. The Italians remained ahead but rounded the top mark for a second time with a precarious 9 second advantage. On the run, the Spanish were able to roll past +39 Challenge within sight of the finishing line to take the win by just one second.

Team Shosholoza got ahead of United Internet Team Germany on the first beat and extended around the course to finish 1:23 ahead. Similarly after edging ahead of Victory Challenge on the first beat Luna Rossa managed a comfortable win, ahead by 27 seconds when they crossed the finishing line.

FLIGHT 1 - Matches 4 and 5

The final matches from Flight 1 were held following Flight 2 on the south race course. In the race between Emirates Team New Zealand and Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team there was a massive tacking battle up the beat, the two boats evenly matched, until the New Zealanders benefited from a shift to help them around the weather mark. Emirates Team New Zealand extended down the run but almost lost their advantage on the second beat when a shift caused the Italian team to draw level. The New Zealanders rounded the top mark 33 seconds ahead and were safe for their victory when the spinnaker pole broke on the Italian boat, knocking a crew member overboard. He was grabbed and hauled back on board and the team proceeded to follow the Kiwis across the finishing line.

+39 Challenge had its second close race of the day, this time against the French Areva Challenge. The two boats were neck and neck up the first beat with +39 pulling ahead to round 17 seconds ahead at the weather mark, a lead they maintained at the leeward gate. But following a tacking duel on the second beat Areva pulled ahead to round the weather mark 7 seconds in advance. +39 kept it close on the run and in the latter stages managed to roll past to windward. After both boats put in a hasty final gybe for the line, the halyard came loose on +39's spinnaker causing it to bulge forward in front of the boat, dragging across the back of FRA 93, resulting in the Italian team picking up a penalty. But by this stag, close to the finishing line, the race already belonged to the French.

Louis Vuitton Cup - Monday's Races

FLIGHT 2

Match

Team

Delta

1

Team Shosholoza beat United Internet Team Germany

1:23

2

China Team beat BMW ORACLE Racing

3:15

3

Luna Rossa Challenge beat Victory Challenge

0:27

4

Areva Challenge beat Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team

2:06

5

Desafío Español 2007 beat +39 Challenge

0:01

FLIGHT 1

Match

Team

Delta

4

Emirates Team New Zealand beat Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team

0:25

5

Areva Challenge beat +39 Challenge

1:11

 Louis Vuitton Cup - Round Robin Two - Provisional Leaderboard

Position

Team

Points - End of RR1

Matches Sailed RR2

Matches Won RR2

Total Points

1

BMW ORACLE Racing (USA 98)

21

2

1

23

1

Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94)

19

2

2

23

3

Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92)

18

1

1

20

4

Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97)

17

1

1

19

5

Victory Challenge (SWE 96)

14

2

1

16

6

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99)

14

2

0

14

6

Team Shosholoza (RSA 83)

        12

2

1

        14

8

Areva Challenge (FRA 93)

9

2

2

13

9

+39 Challenge (ITA 85)

6

2

0

6

10

United Internet Team Germany (GER 89)

3

2

0

3

10

China Team (CHN 95)

1

2

1

3

______________

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Since 1851, the America's Cup has transcended the sport of sailing to become a symbol of the pursuit of excellence. Offical partners LOUIS VUITTON, ENDESA, SANTANDER, ALCATEL - LUCENT and the America's Cup share a heritage rich in passion, innovation and extraordinary achievement. The 32nd America's Cup enjoys the support of Nespresso, Adecco, Ford, El Corte Inglés, Estrella Damm, Grupo Leche Pascual, Coca-Cola and Vodafone.

Racing for the 32nd America's Cup began with a series of Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004, 2005 and 2006 across Europe. It will end in 2007. Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Fleet Racing - (April 3 to 7) preceded the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series (April 16 - June 12). The winner will race the Defender, Alinghi, in the 32nd America's Cup Match beginning June 23, 2007.

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