Round Robin one, race day 2, 29 August 2024
Technically, this race counts for nothing on the points table. Emotionally, competitively, it counts for everything.
They don’t mix it up in the prestart which surprises me. The boats start side by side, with Luna Rossa slightly ahead to the left and the Kiwis forced to tack away towards the right. First blood to Luna Rossa and my text buddy Rosco has gone quiet.
At the first cross, Italy is ahead. This is good for ETNZ because I don’t want them to think they are top dog at this stage.
Luna Rossa is staying clean, they are not buying penalties today. The next cross is critical. Nathan Outteridge on ETNZ says, ‘The shift is going against us.’
Coming into gate one, Italy is ahead by 11 seconds. On leg two, ETNZ makes a gain on the left hand side and crosses just a boat length behind Italy. Both boats are clocking 41 knots.
We are hoping these guys are too good for splashdowns, so winning this race is about picking the shifts and the pressure. On ETNZ, Nathan’s talking about that a lot.
Coming into gate two, Italy is still only just ahead. Heading up leg 3, ETNZ still likes the left. Italy is still ahead and tacks on top of ETNZ. ETNZ tacks away. Are we going for a duel? Italy wants to protect the top right.
Coming to the next cross, Italy is on starboard and tacking on top. ETNZ is on the leeward hip of Italy, equal speeds. I haven’t heard from my text buddy Rosco for a while so I’m thinking the stress is too much for him.
Then wait! ETNZ sails around Italy like they are standing still. Still nothing from Rosco. I think he has fallen off his chair.
Peter Lester is impressed that ETNZ could survive thin on the hip of Italy, and showed off a low-speed, high mode which set them up for the lead change. I’m thinking this is a mode which Italy invented and wielded ruthlessly in the Louis Vuitton Challengers Series in 2021. It also looks like Italy had a slight skid on their rudder and shaved off a bit of speed.
ETNZ is heading into gate 3 and the delta is 6 seconds. Just 6.
Coming into gate 5, ETNZ is still ahead, but no one ever gets comfy with Jimmy behind them. But ETNZ defends all the way down the final leg and finishes ahead by 12 seconds.
© Rebecca Hayter
Photo credit: Ian Roman, America's Cup
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