Louis Vuitton Cup Morning Race Report - Three Out of Three

America One Skipper Paul Cayard gives the thumbs up after defeating the America True in Race 2, RR1. Young America, AmericaOne and Prada head the table with a perfect three out of three races.

The Spanish took their first race win of the series against their European friends and training partners Le Defi Bouygues Telecom-Transiciel, while an excellent start by Nippon (23 seconds ahead) materialised into a loss when the Japanese fumbled a gybe and allowed Young America to sail through.

Full Report Below:

San Diego Conditions without the swell.
The first race of today was sailed in bright sunshine and light airs. 5-8 knots from the North East. One penalty turn and another non-right of way racing rule issue.

Abracadabra 2000 Beat Stars & Stripes. Delta 03:50
Abracadabra started on starboard a couple of lengths to weather of Stars & Stripes, winning the right hand side of the course in the process.

Kolius tacked to the right almost straight away followed 30 seconds later by Stars & Stripes.

A long drag out to the right saw the boat from Hawaii demonstrate superior speed and pull ahead to safely cross ahead.

The first mark rounding went to Abracadabra by one minute and 10 seconds. In a slow race the two boats sailed relatively separate races, Kolius’ crew always managing to get the correct side of the course to open up a large lead at the finish.

America One Beat Be Happy. Delta 14:01
AmericaOne led the Swiss boat away from the start line with a two length advantage. The Swiss boat, struggled to find the speed of the American boat, rounding two minutes and 30 seconds behind.

The pattern was set and the Swiss boat continued to lose time to Paul Cayard’s syndicate finally finishing behind Abracadabra and Stars & Stripes, the pair that started 10 minutes behind them.

Spanish Challenge Beat Le Defi, Delta 00:55

An outstanding morning for the Spanish team!!! Spain trailed Le Defi for most of the race, but make up time on the final leg to win by 0:55.

The boats split the start, but came together to sail up the right side of the course. Le Defi built her lead when Spain sailed back to the middle, and the French held the right side to lead by 0:42 at the top mark.

They added to that over the next two legs, to lead by 2:15 at the 2nd windward mark.

But Spain sailed faster, and picked up a favourable shift for a huge comeback win.

Le Defi didn’t cover downwind, and it cost them the race.

Prada Beat Young Australia 2000. Delta 14.43
In the fourth match of the third race the undefeated Italians were up against the young challengers from Australia.

Young Australia 2000 was chased by the Italians in the pre start period.

Luna Rossa won the start and was to windward. They tacked straight after the start to the right.

Torben Grael, the tactician for Prada favoured that side most of the race. After getting some lateral distance on the James Spithill and his crew Luna Rossa tacked back to Starboard to cover.

With a lot more speed and better pointing ability the Italians went around the top mark first (delta 03:50). Simply covering the Australians loosely.

The lead extended for the Prada Challenge during the race. Sometimes Young Australia 2000 (YA2K) gained a little when the Italians sailed in a hole.

During the whole race there was a man in the mast of Luna Rossa. The Australians lodged protest. Most likely concerning the man up the mast.

RR1 - Race 3 - Young America:
Young America Beat Nippon, Delta 01:32

Young America fouled Asura in a starting line incident as Asura forced the American boat above the line.

Peter Gilmour won the start by 23 seconds and led until they approached the end of the first spinnaker run.

Young America had been gaining and rolled over Asura as the Japanese boat fumbled a gybe.

From there, Young America sailed away, completing a 270 degree penalty turn for a Rule 16 Penalty

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