Poised to Strike May 20, 08:17
"Tough day at the office" is how Peter Isler (sailing team, navigator) characterized yesterday's Day 1 of Act 11.
Truth is none of the "big four" distinguished themselves, with the possible exception of Alinghi with Jochen Schumann (GER) now on the wheel, who at least won a race and recovered from deep in the pack to finish 6th in the other.
Light, shifty, patchy, streaky, with a leftover lump from a strong, overnight breeze and a large spectator fleet -- it was anybody's, and nobody's, conditions.
Just about everyone led or at least were near the head of the pack at one time or another, with the exception of United Internet Team Germany whose GER 72 couldn't seem to get out of its own way in either race.
The bad news is we are tied for 9th. Good news is that last night the guys were pleased with the new rig, we learned a few things about our boat (and our competition) in the choppy seas, and with everyone except Alinghi having at least one lousy race we are only 6 points out of second place with three races still to go.
Here is a quick scoreboard (position/sail code/points -- 12 points for a win, 11 for second, etc):
1 SUI 75 19
2 SWE 63 17
3 RSA 83 16
4 ESP 65 15
4 FRA 60 15
4 NZL 84 15
7 ITA 86 14
8 ITA 77 14
9 ITA 59 11
9 USA 87 11
11 CHN 69 5
12 GER 72 4
So as Pumbaa said, "Let's put our behind in the past," or was it Timon who said, "Let's put our past behind us"? (You know it's been a long day, or maybe a late night out celebrating Bruce Farr's birthday, when you're blogging quotes from the The Lion King.)
The forecast today is, finally, for a moderate seabreeze (12-16kts). Let's see how the sprit and "naked stick," as an infamous website called it yesterday, go in medium air.
Another good day to learn. We are perfectly positioned, and one hopes poised, to strike back.
Congrats to Shosho who had their best AC 32 day yet. Aerial shot by
team photog extraordinaire, Gilles Martin-Raget, who finally got to go
up in a heli yesterday along with other team snappers -- thanks
to a temporary relaxation of the Protocol's recon rules.
Truth is none of the "big four" distinguished themselves, with the possible exception of Alinghi with Jochen Schumann (GER) now on the wheel, who at least won a race and recovered from deep in the pack to finish 6th in the other.
Light, shifty, patchy, streaky, with a leftover lump from a strong, overnight breeze and a large spectator fleet -- it was anybody's, and nobody's, conditions.
Just about everyone led or at least were near the head of the pack at one time or another, with the exception of United Internet Team Germany whose GER 72 couldn't seem to get out of its own way in either race.
The bad news is we are tied for 9th. Good news is that last night the guys were pleased with the new rig, we learned a few things about our boat (and our competition) in the choppy seas, and with everyone except Alinghi having at least one lousy race we are only 6 points out of second place with three races still to go.
Here is a quick scoreboard (position/sail code/points -- 12 points for a win, 11 for second, etc):
1 SUI 75 19
2 SWE 63 17
3 RSA 83 16
4 ESP 65 15
4 FRA 60 15
4 NZL 84 15
7 ITA 86 14
8 ITA 77 14
9 ITA 59 11
9 USA 87 11
11 CHN 69 5
12 GER 72 4
So as Pumbaa said, "Let's put our behind in the past," or was it Timon who said, "Let's put our past behind us"? (You know it's been a long day, or maybe a late night out celebrating Bruce Farr's birthday, when you're blogging quotes from the The Lion King.)
The forecast today is, finally, for a moderate seabreeze (12-16kts). Let's see how the sprit and "naked stick," as an infamous website called it yesterday, go in medium air.
Another good day to learn. We are perfectly positioned, and one hopes poised, to strike back.
)
Congrats to Shosho who had their best AC 32 day yet. Aerial shot byteam photog extraordinaire, Gilles Martin-Raget, who finally got to go
up in a heli yesterday along with other team snappers -- thanks
to a temporary relaxation of the Protocol's recon rules.
Racing | by TFE
