Longtze is going better

7 to 9 knots and a flat sea awaited the America’s Cup Class yachts today. In somewhat soft conditions, it is never-the-less a true drama in play this week in Valencia: at the end of Round Robin 2, 7 teams will say goodbye to their quest for the silver mug. So that the spectacle lasts and the suspense is maintained, only one race will be run each day from here on out.

For China Team, the competition of the day is a big obstacle. Winner of the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup, Luna Rossa carries 2nd place in general classification, with a good possibility of getting to the semi-finals. In the pre-start maneuvers however, Longtze is declared the start winner. Just coming out of the boatyard, CHN95 seems perfectly back to normal and is able to control its opposition. The Chinese afterguard chooses the left side of the racecourse and is able to maintain it. Even better, Pierre Mas is successful in luffing James Spithill, slowing them down and forcing them to the right hand side. Longtze has a 15-second advantage over the Italians at the start line.

In the lead, during the first upwind leg, Longtze is finally obliged to let Luna Rossa pass first around the windward mark, only a few boat lengths to their credit. The spread is maintained during the next leg. Approaching the first leeward mark, the spinnaker drop is unfortunately a problem for the Chinese crew. The spinnaker is left in the water; Longtze slows to a crawl, with its adversary leaving to carry the match.

In the wild ride to the semi-finals, Shosholoza is the defeated of the day. Having sailed in the lead during the first three quarters of the regatta, the South Africans (hindered by a broken spinnaker pole) are passed on the last leg by Victory Challenge, still in the race. Oracle defeated Team Germany. The other matches of the day we cancelled because a lack of wind on the second race course, Juliet.

Guillaume Florent
“It is still pretty good; it is the first time we have crossed in front of our competition. We took the starting gun, and we were able to block and push back during three quarters of the first leg. With just a hair more speed, we would have gone around the buoy first. Luna Rossa’s speed is maybe a little less impressive than Oracle, but they go fast none-the-less. It was good to be able to push them for half of the race. At the leeward gate, we wanted to do a “Kiwi drop” a delicate maneuver, which involves jibing and taking down the spinnaker at the same time. At the same time, Luna Rossa wasn’t too far away, who had just gone by, and this time... Yet, it is still one of the most promising races we have had.

RV.

Onboard Longtze today

flight 1 / Round Robin 2

 OFF: El Desafio

General Classification