The Mighty fall: America's Cup Newsletter

Editorial: The Mighty fall

Welcome to Sail-World.Com’s America’s Cup newsletter for Day 9, Raceday 3 of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup.

After a week of indifference due to the fickle Valencian weather, amore robust breeze arrived today and we saw the first of what the Louis Vuitton Cup can deliver and the potential that is on offer from the Class of 2007.

It was a day of surprises and close racing.

The big surprise was that Luna Rossa, widely considered to be one of the Big Three by most pundits, and a certainty for the Semi-Finals, emerged from the day with two losses.

BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand, who make up the fancied Big Three, came out of the day with two wins apiece. But both had one that was comfortable and one that was close.

The day’s racing underlined the fact that this group of challengers, in lighter airs at least, is much closer than most would have predicted and that an upset is possible at any stage of the game. Sailing skill is much more of a premium at this regatta than design technology, and the Big Three are putting their reputations on the line in most matches.

BMW Oracle Racing emerged on top after the first of the so-called "Top of the table" clashes on Day 9, Raceday 3, of the Louis Vuitton Cup  BMW Oracle Racing © Photo - Gilles Martin-Raget

Team Shosholoza is a case in point, having a reasonably comfortable win over Luna Rossa (even more so than the Mascalzone Latino win over Emirates team NZ in the opening flight). But then when Luna Rossa pitched up against BMW Oracle Racing in the second match of the day, it was a very close run thing with the sole challenger from the USA having to fight for every inch of advantage.

On the points table the Big Three take the top places, largely by virtues of their performances before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup, than because of it. Below them, the expected log-jam of suitors for the fourth place, and maybe third place in the Semi-Finals, has gathered. From here on, we can only expect more upsets.

Sorry there is no report from Bob Fisher today. We contacted him by phone in Valencia, miles away from the Media Centre, it had been sent but not received by our deadline. We’ll post it on www.sail-world.com as soon as it arrives and will include it in tomorrow’s newsletter.

Weather fore the next few days is predicted to be more of the same – with possibly stronger winds. We can look forward to some more great racing and get closer to being on track with the racing program.

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

By nzeditor@sail-world.com

BMW ORACLE Racing wins cliffhanger match
By Jane Eagleson, BMW Oracle Racing,
The opening round of the Louis Vuitton Cup was set alight today with a classic match race battle between two of the so-called Big Guns going all the way to the wire. BMW ORACLE Racing led the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge in a heart-stopping race all the way round the track to win by 6 seconds... [more]

The breeze picks up – and NZL 92 picks up two wins
By Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ Media,
The sea breeze returned to Valencia today and NZL 92 welcomed it with two good wins, against France and Spain. The breeze may have returned but it was still light and it was still shifty but it was stable enough for some good racing.... [more]

Quotes of the Day: Day 9, Flights 4 and 5
By America's Cup Media,
Brad Webb, Bowman, BMW ORACLE Racing, on their close match against Luna Rossa: 'A boat length in this game can seem like a hundred miles at times, but it can also feel like a few inches. Today it was the latter.'... [more]

Surprise win for Desafío Español 2007
By Desafío Español 2007 media,
Desafío Español 2007 wins over Mascalzone Latino but falls to Emirates Team New Zealand. Desafío Español 2007 closely marked their opponent, the Italian team Mascalzone Latino, looking for an advantageous position for themselves. Shortly into the race both boats drew alongside and then began a war of turns along the right hand side of the course.... [more]

Shosholoza surprises Luna Rossa, USA undefeated
By America's Cup Media,
Sea breeze conditions returned to Valencia on Tuesday allowing two full flights of races to be completed at the Louis Vuitton Cup. There was plenty of action on the race course where the South African Team Shosholoza earned an impressive victory over Luna Rossa Challenge. The Italian Luna Rossa team began the day undefeated, but eventually lost both races on the day, dropping their second match of the afternoon to BMW ORACLE Racing.... [more]

German Team climbs to rank nine after 1-1 day
By Oliver Laskowsky, United Internet Team Germany,
The United Internet Team Germany has ended day three of the Louis Vuitton Cup with one win and one defeat. After a historic victory in the first match race of the day against China Team the German team succumbed to the Swedish Victory Challenge. Because of the two points earned in the race against China Team the German team has now advanced to rank nine of the overall ranking of the Louis Vuitton Cup.... [more]

Two losses for Luna Rossa to RSA and BMW Oracle
By Luna Rossa Media,
The fourth and fifth flight of the eliminatory Louis Vuitton Round Robin 1 took place today in Valencia.... [more]

Surprises but Victory Challenge down to BMW Oracle
By Bert Willborg,
Desafío Español wins over unbeaten Mascalzone Latino and Team Shosholoza wins over unbeaten Luna Rossa Challenge. Victory Challenge loses against BMW Oracle Racing... [more]

 
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