NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ take a narrow lead at RBYAC

NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ take a narrow lead at RBYAC

The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ has the early lead after day one of the inaugural Red bull Youth America’s Cup, but only by the narrowest of margins. The other New Zealand entry FMJ Racing has a share of third place.

In a format where consistency pays dividends the Peter Burling led team sits at the top of the standings on 16 points after placing 2nd (worth 9 points) in the opening race and then 4th (7 points) in the second race of the day.

Sailor on board NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ Andy Maloney says, “All the boys were really excited and pumped up to start racing, and it was good to get those first two races out of the way, not make any major mistakes on the first day and get two solid results up.”

Maloney reports that kiwi team feel comfortable with their opening day performance; “To not lose the regatta on the first day was the main thing for us so it was good. Everyone is pretty happy with our boat speed and our tactical decisions out there.”

“We just made one silly unforced error today with getting a penalty on the boundary on the last race which cost us a couple of points which is never good. But we’ll learn from that and hopefully not make the same mistake again tomorrow.”

Maloney continues, “Just getting into the real racing is a little different and everything happens really quick. We’ve got plenty to work on around the whole course, but everyone is pretty happy with how it is going.  So we’ll just try and improve for tomorrow.”

Racing on San Francisco Bay was extremely tight as all ten AC45s lined up for two races sailed in great conditions, the breeze ranging from 13-18 knots across the race track, with everyone wanting to open the regatta well.

The French entry, Next World Energy is just one point behind NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ on 15 points while FMJ Racing (NZL), Swedish Youth Challenge and American Youth Force Sailing are all on 14 points.

The Will Tiller led FMJ Racing team took a win in race two, “The difference was getting off that start line well in race two and getting to the first mark in the lead,” Tiller said. “You’ve got to get in there early and tussle for your position right up to the start gun. We’re learning all the time and getting better and better. We need to because there is quality competition.”

Red Bull Youth America’s Cup standings after day one

1st NZL Sailing with ETNZ - 16 point

2nd Next World Energy - 15 point

3rd Full Metal Jacket Racing – 14 point

4th Swedish Youth Challenge – 14 point

5th American Youth Sailing Force - 14 point

6th ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team - 13 point

7th Team Tilt – 9 point

8th All In Racing – 9 point

9th USA45 Racing -4 point

10th Objective Australia – 2 points

The regatta, being sailed in the AC45 wing sailed catamarans, runs across four consecutive days starting Sunday September 1st.  There will be two fleet races sailed each day starting at 1100 hours local time in San Francisco, each intended to be around 25 minutes long with a 30 minute break in between.

Using a high point scoring system, the first seven races have equal points weighting with 10 points for 1st, 9 points for 2nd and so on. The final eighth race is worth double points.

The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ includes Peter Burling, Blair Tuke, Jono Spurdle, Guy Endean, Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Jason Saunders.

Follow the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ via…facebook.com/NZLSailingTeam and yachtingnz.org.nz

Watch the racing live from 0600hours New Zealand time on www.tvnz.co.nz/americascup

ENDS

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