The underdog vs the top dog
Round Robin 1, Race 4, 29 Aug
Both boats are under number one jibs and are looking awfully soft in the light. Orient Express has to avoid dirty air in the prestart; this is where experience counts.
Italy gets into high mode off the line and allows Orient Express about a minute of thinking it has a lead of about 8m, but as the boats tack away from the boundary, Italy is in control and protecting the right.
I’m picking that Italy will maintain and build the lead, which is pretty much what happens, but Orient Express is rumoured to be fast in the light and manages to hang in there for most of the race. On leg four, Italy gives some hope to France when it gets too high in a gybe and nearly loses the rudder but recovers well.
Orient Express loses slightly on each delta until a deficit of 1.24 at the finish line in extremely tricky, light conditions.
But on Luna Rossa, Jimmy says the French are dangerous and Francesco Bruni says: ‘Good job, guys. That was not easy, eh.’ His Australian is getting more fluent all the time.
The French took a win against Alinghi in race one and had Luna Rossa worried in race four. Overall they had a good day.
Photo credit: Ricardo Pinto, America's Cup
© Rebecca Hayter
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