BLOODY SPECTACULAR Oct 1, 20:29
Our match with ETNZ this afternoon ranks with two of the other great America's Cup matches of the modern era (if not all times): the barn-burner between America Cubed and Il Moro in the '92 match, and the AmericaOne - Prada "match of the century" in the finals of the '00 LVC.
Soft Mediterranean sunshine under clearing skies. Beautiful Egadi Islands rising out of the sea in the background. Sparkling aquamarine sea churned into a lumpy froth by the wind and a gentle swell left over from yesterday's frontal passage. 12 to 18 knots of wind making for perfekt match racing conditions, to say nothing of great surfing conditions. Friendly "cross-town" rivals with pride and more at stake. Two teams at the top of their games and The Game. Large spectator fleet. 100 of our own VIP guests on two exceptional spectator boats.
Aggressive pre-start. Even start. Hand-to-hand combat up the first leg. Lead change downwind. Lead change upwind. Lead change downwind. Nearly a fourth lead change in the final few boat lengths as the trailing yacht surfed up alongside the leader. Excellent race management. Clean sailing -- no penalties. 3 second delta at the finish.
Heart-breaking loss and the disappointment that goes with it. Then the realization that it was one of the great matches of all time, the better team on the day had won (barely), and we can still win the regatta if we win all our remaining matches and ETNZ loses one more -- they, like us, still have matches to come with Alinghi and Luna Rossa.
Upon returning to the harbour, spectators lining the shore five deep. A swinging jazz band at the Foredeck Club crowded with stoked AC fans. Congratulations from everyone you know (and some you don't) for such a great match, including members of the other team. Hosting a barbecue at our base for all the teams and officials. Among many others at the BBQ, old friends Terry Hutchinson (USA -- ETNZ's tactician) and Bertrand Pace (FRA -- our tactician) seen chatting animatedly and amiably.
The America's Cup is alive and well in Europe, probably better than ever.
P.S. to family and friends, and other Cup fan around the world: wish you were here.
As I write this post the "neighborhood barbeque" hosted here in the
paddock by BMW ORACLE Racing for the other teams and officials is
raging. Bloody spectacular.
Soft Mediterranean sunshine under clearing skies. Beautiful Egadi Islands rising out of the sea in the background. Sparkling aquamarine sea churned into a lumpy froth by the wind and a gentle swell left over from yesterday's frontal passage. 12 to 18 knots of wind making for perfekt match racing conditions, to say nothing of great surfing conditions. Friendly "cross-town" rivals with pride and more at stake. Two teams at the top of their games and The Game. Large spectator fleet. 100 of our own VIP guests on two exceptional spectator boats.
Aggressive pre-start. Even start. Hand-to-hand combat up the first leg. Lead change downwind. Lead change upwind. Lead change downwind. Nearly a fourth lead change in the final few boat lengths as the trailing yacht surfed up alongside the leader. Excellent race management. Clean sailing -- no penalties. 3 second delta at the finish.
Heart-breaking loss and the disappointment that goes with it. Then the realization that it was one of the great matches of all time, the better team on the day had won (barely), and we can still win the regatta if we win all our remaining matches and ETNZ loses one more -- they, like us, still have matches to come with Alinghi and Luna Rossa.
Upon returning to the harbour, spectators lining the shore five deep. A swinging jazz band at the Foredeck Club crowded with stoked AC fans. Congratulations from everyone you know (and some you don't) for such a great match, including members of the other team. Hosting a barbecue at our base for all the teams and officials. Among many others at the BBQ, old friends Terry Hutchinson (USA -- ETNZ's tactician) and Bertrand Pace (FRA -- our tactician) seen chatting animatedly and amiably.
The America's Cup is alive and well in Europe, probably better than ever.
P.S. to family and friends, and other Cup fan around the world: wish you were here.
)
As I write this post the "neighborhood barbeque" hosted here in thepaddock by BMW ORACLE Racing for the other teams and officials is
raging. Bloody spectacular.
by TFE
