MAGICAL PLACE TO SAIL Oct 2, 20:12
Easy win over China Team, and closer win over Victory Challenge today. Against the Swedish team it got light and shifty at the end of the second beat, and Magnus Holmberg & Co. closed in. But our afterguard made all the right moves and protected the three-boat length lead down the run, parrying every attack the Swedes made. SWE-63 has been very quick in the lighter going, and when the breeze dropped below 11 or 12 today, it was remarkable how quickly they came on.
Regardless, two more points. Our guys made it look easy, but the second match was closer than it probably looked. If Victory Challenge comes up with a good new boat, they could well be among the top challengers this time around.
So nothing has changed today. For us to win Act 8, we need to win all our remaining matches, and ETNZ needs to lose once more -- and they still face Alinghi (tomorrow) and Luna Rossa (Tuesday).
Tomorrow we have +39 and then the Spanish. Again, we must not look past either of them to our big day on Tuesday. In an earlier post I said we raced Luna Rossa Monday, but with only one flight completed Friday, we will now race both Flight 10 (Luna Rossa) and Flight 11 (Alinghi) on Tuesday, weather permitting. Wednesday and Thursday are reserve days.
* * * * *
Julie Ash had a nice article about Trapani in this morning's New Zealand Herald. She even included a quote by Chris D, saying that "the clear blue sea and picturesque setting moved BMW Oracle Racing chief Chris Dickson to describe the location as 'a magical place to sail.'"
With each passing day, more and more people here would agree with Dicko's sentiments.
Today gave us another magical view of Trapani. The first three days the north course was out under the Egadi Islands, to the west of the harbour entrance. Today it was off the city front, north of the harbour entrance. The backdrop was even more spectacular.
(Click on any of the following images to enlarge.)
No better caption...
...than "A magical place to sail."
View from our VIP spectator boat Zurga before docking out this morning,
looking to the west end of the packed AC Park where the Amerigo Vespucci
is docked and also open to the public.
The popular radio-controlled yacht basin just behind Zurga in the
AC Park.
Looking east past the Foredeck Club up to beautiful and historically-
significant Monte Erice.
76 on a "flyby" past the ACM photo boat yesterday, just before
the sensational match with ETNZ. Photo courtesy of www.CupInfo.com.
First two photos by Gilles Martin-Raget. More at www.bmor-photo.com.
Regardless, two more points. Our guys made it look easy, but the second match was closer than it probably looked. If Victory Challenge comes up with a good new boat, they could well be among the top challengers this time around.
So nothing has changed today. For us to win Act 8, we need to win all our remaining matches, and ETNZ needs to lose once more -- and they still face Alinghi (tomorrow) and Luna Rossa (Tuesday).
Tomorrow we have +39 and then the Spanish. Again, we must not look past either of them to our big day on Tuesday. In an earlier post I said we raced Luna Rossa Monday, but with only one flight completed Friday, we will now race both Flight 10 (Luna Rossa) and Flight 11 (Alinghi) on Tuesday, weather permitting. Wednesday and Thursday are reserve days.
* * * * *
Julie Ash had a nice article about Trapani in this morning's New Zealand Herald. She even included a quote by Chris D, saying that "the clear blue sea and picturesque setting moved BMW Oracle Racing chief Chris Dickson to describe the location as 'a magical place to sail.'"
With each passing day, more and more people here would agree with Dicko's sentiments.
Today gave us another magical view of Trapani. The first three days the north course was out under the Egadi Islands, to the west of the harbour entrance. Today it was off the city front, north of the harbour entrance. The backdrop was even more spectacular.
(Click on any of the following images to enlarge.)
)
No better caption... )
...than "A magical place to sail.")
View from our VIP spectator boat Zurga before docking out this morning,looking to the west end of the packed AC Park where the Amerigo Vespucci
is docked and also open to the public.
)
The popular radio-controlled yacht basin just behind Zurga in theAC Park.
)
Looking east past the Foredeck Club up to beautiful and historically-significant Monte Erice.
)
76 on a "flyby" past the ACM photo boat yesterday, just beforethe sensational match with ETNZ. Photo courtesy of www.CupInfo.com.
First two photos by Gilles Martin-Raget. More at www.bmor-photo.com.
by TFE
