RC44 Championship Tour, bentornato BMW Oracle Racing
MonotipiaRC44Vela 29 Aprile 2010 Zerogradinord 0
RC44 Championship Tour – Lago Traunsee – Collisioni, bandiere di protesta, penalità. La prima giornata dell’RC44 Austria Cup, passata in archivio grazie a una gelida brezza da nord, non ha certo lesinato emozioni.
La contesa si è incendiata con l’inizio del secondo volo. I match si sono fatti improvvisamente più combattuti. A emergere è stata la classe di Russell Coutts che non ha sbagliato una chiamata, mettendo Larry Ellison nella condizione di vincere tre match consecutivi prima di frenare la sua corsa contro Katusha di Paul Cayard. Una sosta lungo il cammino: già al duello successivo il binomio Ellison-Coutts è tornato alla vittoria, contro i compagni di squadra James Spithill e John Kostecki, impegnati su RC44 Challenge.
Partenza dirompente anche per Team Sea Dubai, vincitore di quattro regate. Markus Wieser e il suo equipaggio sono secondi assoluti, a pari punti con Team Aqua. Lo scafo di Chris Bake sarebbe potuto essere alla pari con BMW Oracle Racing se solo non fosse incappato in un errore mentre eseguiva una penalità in un match ormai vinto.
Domani verranno disputati altri cinque voli, ovviamente tempo permettendo. Il meteo, infatti, non è dei migliori. Le temperature dovrebbero crollare e il vento dovrebbe essere accompagnato da precipitazioni. Ogni volo in iù è certo benvenuto, ma la manifestazione è già valida con i match disputati oggi.
RC44 Austria Cup
1. BMW Oracle Racing, 5-1, pt. 5
2. Team Aqua, 4-1, pt. 4
2. Team Sea Dubai, 4-1, pt. 4
4. Katusha, 3-2, pt. 3
4. Artemis, 3-3, pt. 3
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RC4 CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR, RUSSELL COUTTS AND LARRY ELLISON TAKE THE LEAD
[RC44 Championship Tour Press Release] Packed with protest flags, incidents and flogging sails, the first day of the RC44 Austria Cup lived up to its promises. Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio decided to set up the course at the southern end of the lake, in search of a stronger breeze. The call proved right and the teams got blessed with a superb 10-15 knots very cold breeze blowing from the north.
The first flight of the day turned out to be a round of observation, with big distances between the boats and no serious incidents to report. But the situation rapidly changed, with the teams sailing more aggressively throughout the afternoon.
Absent from the Championship Tour since last year’s Portoroz Cup due to his America’s Cup commitments, Russell Coutts immediately confirmed that he hadn’t lost his magic touch, giving perfect advice to his helmsman Larry Ellison and winning his first three matches. The fourth one, against Paul Cayard’s Katusha, turned out to be the best one of the day, with the two teams staying in close contact throughout the race and inflicting each other all of match race’s dirty tricks. Paul Cayard won the match, but the duo Coutts-Ellison got its revenge in the next flight during another superb match, this time against James Spithill on board RC44 Challenge.
Winner of the season’s first match race in the United Arab Emirates, Team Sea Dubai confirmed its great match race skills by winning four regattas today. Markus Wieser and his team are currently second of the provisional ranking, on a tie with Team Aqua. Also on great form, Cameron Appleton and his crewmembers could well be sitting on top of the leader board alongside BMW Oracle Racing if they hadn’t lost a precious point to Islas Canarias Puerto Calero. After leading the entire race, Team Aqua was nearing the arrival line and only had a penalty turn to perform to grab the point. However, the exercise turned into a nightmare when the spinnaker fell in the water, stopping the boat and opening a precious gap for the Spaniards.
Five more flights will be sailed tomorrow, weather permitting. The forecast isn’t good; the temperature should drop whilst showers and light wind are predicted. Every new flight will be welcomed; however the tournament is already valid with the seven flights completed today.
RC44 Austria Cup
1. BMW Oracle Racing, 5-1, pt. 5
2. Team Aqua, 4-1, pt. 4
2. Team Sea Dubai, 4-1, pt. 4
4. Katusha, 3-2, pt. 3
4. Artemis, 3-3, pt. 3
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