33rd America's Cup - AY Pre-Race 2 Update

Can Alinghi make 3 races out of it?
Will the best of 3 Deed of Gift duels turn into what British match racer and race commentator Andy Green described as 'The Wing is King' and be all rapped up by late this afternoon. Or can Ernesto Bertarelli, helming his own boat and team president of Alinghi make it 1 - 1 and we go eagerly into the third and deciding race. For Race 2 Alinghi has the favoured starboard entry and if they come clean out of the start and manage to hold onto USA-17 up the 13nm windward beat, the 2 long reaching legs may suit their soft sail rig and flying style. All this speculation is based on the words 'weather permitting' and all through the event Huey (the sailors wind god), plays a huge role by distributing his favours in strange ways and with every breath holds the fate of the event and ultimately leaves the teams destiny hanging in the balance. Remember the last race of AC 32 when the wind changed direction on the last downwind, allowing TNZ to catch up and while they were doing a penalty turn on the finish line, wounded Alinghi picked up a little puff that pushed their bow across the line 1 second in front (See Image) and the rest is history.

However in the technology race Larry Ellison and BMW ORACLE Racing Team have shown they can point 3-4 degrees higher and foot a couple knots faster than Alinghi upwind. This deadly combination is described by veteran AC expert and UK yachting correspondent Bob Fisher as having devastating effects on the regatta and can completely demoralise the opposition. After giving away 660 metres at the Race 1 startline it took Aussie skipper Jimmy Spithill a little less than ten minutes to draw level and overtake Alinghi clear to windward. Game over!

Alinghi is no push over but perhaps Kiwi Brad Butterworth skipper/tactician on Alinghi could see the writing on the wall when he stated at the press conference "They certainly showed how fast they can get their boat going. When you are sitting in front of them and they sail up and around you, that is real speed."

Maybe breakages will come into play one way or the other. The weather will also play a pivotal role in getting proceedings underway. Imagine trying to get the wind blowing all the same way and strength over a 20 mile course. That is 400 square miles! What a nightmare and Principal Race Officer, Harold Bennett and his team may have us standing by until Huey has his way. What ever happens the AC 33 story is likely to produce a lot more twists and turns before its over. We hope so and find it great watching this universal drama unfold right before our very eyes.

Russell Coutts CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing Team may yet have the last laugh when they beat the defenders (His previous employers) at their own game, thereby keeping his flawless AC race winning streak intact.

Oh by the way it is Chinese Lunar New Year in Asia and this year is conveniently timed to begin today on Valentines Day. The old proverb 'Two birds with the one stone' Which team will enter the 'Year of the Tiger' savouring sweet success and on this auspicious occasion be lucky enough to take home the coveted America's Cup, thereby rewriting the record books plus making it a triple celebration.

Race 2 Schedule and Course

SCHEDULE: Race 2 is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2010. Please be advised by the race committee that the Warning signal for Race 2 will not be made before 11.54 (CET) or roughly 18:54 East Asian time. Fits nicely between dinner and late supper in Malaysia. Hope it is not a case of "Hurry up and wait"

COURSE: Race 2 is a 39nm equilateral triangle course - the first side of which is a 13nm beat to windward. Alinghi has the starboard entry advantage and weather permitting may the long reaching legs suit their soft sail rig and flying style. Get ready for some more startline fireworks as Aussie Jimmy Spithill went for the juggler straight away and Touché in round one. Can Alinghi skipper/tactician Brad Butterworth repeat the magic of past AC campaigns and pull something out of the hat? You can bet your last dollar that these two teams are the best in the world and hell bent of bringing this 2 boat duel to a climax.

Goto: 33rd AC - AY Race 2 & Roundup Photo Gallery
33rd AC - AY Race 2 & Roundup
AY AC33 Race 1 Photo Gallery
33rd AC - AY Race 1 Update, Log & Quotes for the day
33rd AC - AY Pre-Regatta Update

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