Sail-World newsletter

World Series - all the action...Barker on the first two daze...Auckland Int Boat Show starts Thursday

Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand newsletter for 13 September 2011

In this newsletter edition of Sail-World.com we continue our coverage of the second round in the America's Cup World Series in Plymouth, England.

We are covering the event each day on our website www.sail-world.com

Go to www.sail-world.com to get the updates of each day of the regatta - which resumes Wednesday night or early hours of Thursday morning (NZT).

Day 2 was marked by strong winds and the most ferocious racing that the AC45's have experienced to date. There were three capsizes - most of which is on the replay video - see story on this edition.

At the media conference, we filed an online question about the top speed of the AC45 to Emirates Team NZ skipper, Dean Barker, who responded that it was around 26-27kts.

That seemed to be the top of the performance envelope on Sunday. Not answered in the media conference was the second part of the question - as to the most tricky point of sailing for the AC45. We had the answer to that on Sunday - as the 45ft catamarans buried both bows back to the main beam as they accelerated around the windward mark and headed downwind.

Same answer to the question in the speed trial when we saw capsizes and spin-outs - even by the top competitors when the pressure of a gust became to much for them. Oracle skipper, James Spithill performed a spectacular spin-out and recovery during the speed trial - again see it in the replay.

There's more crew changes coming in the teams, with Oracle Racing announcing a shuffling of their pack - and the introduction of a second Australian helmsman.

On Thursday, the Auckland International Boat Show gets underway, timed to take advantage of the crowds of fans attending the Rugby World Cup.

In this edition of Sail-World we have several stories of points of interest at the show and will be running more in the lead up to the great event, and will be running more stories and photos during the show itself.

Internet connection permitting, we'll be having replay coverage of each day's racing from the America's Cup World Series at the Sail-World.com stand at the Auckland International Boat Show - and will take in the final days of this event.

Don't forget to buy your tickets online - just click on the banner at the top of this page. You'll save money, too!

Many thanks to those who have contributed to this edition, particularly those using our online submission and image loading facility which can be accessed by clicking here

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

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