• Match 1 Alinghi SUI 64 wins against Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 (29")

On a misty and murky day on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, ORACLE BMW Racing incurred its second loss at the hands of the Swiss ’Alinghi’ challenge. With the wind shifting as much as 30 degrees at times, ORACLE BMW Racing held the right hand starboard position off the start line with Alinghi just to leeward. Wanting the right side of the course, USA-76 was the first to tack, but by the windward mark, Alinghi showed good boat speed to lead by 22-seconds.

The experienced Afterguard aboard SUI-64 kept a tight cover on ORACLE BMW Racing, offering no passing opportunities in the highly variable wind range. By the fourth mark, SUI-64 was one minute and five seconds ahead, but USA-76 managed to come back strongly over the next two legs of the course to cross the finish line just 29 seconds behind. Both crews displayed good boat handling and tactical skills, but in reality once Alinghi gained the early advantage, it was a lead that they never relinquished.

For ORACLE BMW Racing, it is the second loss to Alinghi in this series, and the team is realistic about the challenge they are facing. Race three of the Semi-Finals will be raced tomorrow, despite a planned day off, to make up for the postponement on day one. In this best-of-seven series, the winner will progress straight to the Louis Vuitton Challenger Final, whilst the loser will enter the repechage round against the winner of the Prada and OneWorld match.

– Chris Dickson : Oracle BMW Racing skipper : "It was very shifty conditions out there today with the wind speed going up and down the scale. We were pretty happy with the way that we sailed today, however Alinghi was just a click quicker in those conditions. Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth sailed a very good race and we look forward to racing them again tomorrow."

Source Oracle BMW Racing

• Match 2 Luna Rossa ITA 74 wins against OneWorld USA 67 (20")

The match between Luna Rossa ITA 74 and OneWorld USA 67 starts on time at 13:15. Rod Davis takes the left and Spithill the right in a fairly even start across the line. The boats are both on starboard in 10 knots of westerly breeze as they launch into the first beat. The wind shifts slightly to the right favouring the Americans. Halfway through the beat Francesco de Angelis is able to close on USA 67. James Spithill tacks away to the right and Luna Rossa decides not to cover, heading straight for the port lay-line. The two yachts are bow to bow, then the breeze shifts right again and USA 67 stretches over ITA 74. Both boats have overstood the lay line and OneWorld rounds the first mark with a 21 seconds lead over Luna Rossa.

First downwind run. Dark clouds with stronger wind are approaching and the breeze increases to 14 knots. Both boats hoist the asymmetrical sail (gennaker). Francesco de Angelis chases USA 67. Halfway through the leg the Italians gybe to the left and OneWorld does not cover. Luna Rossa attacks again with a series of gybes. At the bottom mark USA 67 is still in the lead and ITA 74 trails by 17 seconds.

Second beat. Immediately after the mark Luna Rossa tacks away to the left side of the course. USA 67 decides not to cover and sails to the right. The two boats now have a lateral separation of over 500 metres. Spithill tacks back. The wind shifts to the left favouring Luna Rossa who is able to close the gap and overtake her opponent. The visibility is very poor due to low clouds and drizzly rain. The wind is extremely shifty and USA 67 is back in the lead. At the third mark rounding USA 67 is ahead of Luna Rossa by 29 seconds.

Second gennaker run. Michele Ivaldi, strategist on Luna Rossa, climbs up the mast to look out for the puffs of wind. Francesco de Angelis heads to the left and USA 67 opts not to cover, keeping to the right. Luna Rossa, now with a lateral separation on USA 67 over 1000 metres, gains over her opponent and takes the lead. However, when ITA 74 gybes the lead goes back to the Americans. At the fourth mark rounding USA 67 is leading by 38 seconds.

Third and final beat upwind. There are now 11 knots of wind. Luna Rossa attacks with a series of tacks and plays well the frequent wind shifts, with Torben Grael calling the tactics. Towards the end of the leg Francesco de Angelis, on the port lay line, takes the lead. At the last mark roundin Luna Rossa is in the lead by 28 seconds.

Third and final run. Both crews hoist the gennaker. There are 13 knots of wind. Francesco de Angelis defends well his lead by always positioning himself between the finish line and his opponent. Luna Rossa goes to win the race by 20 seconds.

– Torben Grael, tactician on board Luna Rossa : "It was a difficult race today. The wind was very shifty and we had rain and poor visibility. We favoured the left and played the shifts accordingly. OneWorld had a good right shift in the first beat and they were able to take the lead. Then in the second run we had an opportunity but we could not capitalize on it because the wind shifted too much on our side and we ended up covering more distance. The break came in the final windward leg when OneWorld separated and we were able to play the left with a favourable shift, taking the lead, reaching the lay line and rounding the
mark ahead of them. In the last run we stayed close to them defending our advantage. The boats are quite even in speed, we have to take these races one by one and concentrate on doing our best. I think it will be a very close series."

Source Prada Luna Rossa

TODAY’S RESULTS

RACE 2
– Match 2 Luna Rossa ITA 74 wins against OneWorld USA 67 (20")
– Match 1 Alinghi SUI 64 wins against Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 (29")

SCOREBOARD
– Alinghi (2) - Oracle BMW Racing (0)
– Prada Challenge (1) - OneWorld * (1)

* One point penalty to be applied to OW (Arbitration Panel decision, December 9, 2002).