Day 3 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final racing could be the end of the road for two teams . . . Alinghi Red Bull and American Magic.
Latest Racing News Update:
R5 – USA NYYC American Magic v ITA Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
After dip start, ITA lead to LH side. ITA cover until USA break away but ITA lead at Gate 1 by 17sec. Gate 2 ITA lead by 17sec, 100m and the teams split sides. At cross USA call stbd and ITA get penalty, then lead changes several times and at Gate 3 they round within 3sec to opposite sides.
Gate 4 round same mark together ITA, by 1 sec, but USA go round them to lead to LH side. ITA then off-foils on tack. USA extend away to 2560m lead at Gate 5 and cross Finish fo first win over Luna Rosa, who were stuck off-foils.
Race 5 – SUI ALlinghi Red Bull Racing v GBR INEOS Britannia
Start delayed low wind strength.
At Start Alinghi get OCS penalty, Ineos Britannia away to 90+m lead. GBR 130m ahead at cross and round Gate 1 GBR lead by 17sec.
At Gate 2 GBR lead by 1m 10sec. GBR come off-foils as SUI rounding gate 2. SUI still on-foils catch and overtake GBR who remain off-foils.
Gate 3 SUI lead by 8m 43sec.
Shortened Course one leg signalled.
SUI come off-foils but manage to reach Gate 4 to round off-foils. SUI head to Finish, need to beat time limit to count the race. Finally a bit of breeze and off-foils they cross at 8.4 kts inside the time limit. GBR are DNF.
The Swiss and American teams are facing ‘sudden-death‘ each having lost four races in their Semi-Finals, and the victory going to the first to win five races.
That puts the British and Italian teams on ‘match-point’ from here.
Monday 16 September two races are planned for each semi-final.
SUI ALlinghi Red Bull Racing v GBR INEOS Britannia is the first scheduled race and should be a great match with everything on the line.
Then we have USA NYYC American Magic v ITA Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
The US team have been pushing the Italians closely, with small errors making the crucial difference. In their last race Sunday, American Magic came within two seconds of snatching a race win. Can they turn things around to sail another day?
Racing starts daily at 13:00hrs UK (14.00 CET) and will be screened live here on the America’s Cup YouTube channel.
Weather Forecast Monday 16 Sept:
Wind – Southerly at 9 to 14 kts, gusting 17 Kts
Sea State – Sea calm
Temp 22 – 26 deg C
Louis Vuitton website forecast expects that in the afternoon the breeze is expected to increase and the increase will be associated with a right direction trend to 200°. Sea state will be calm with some wind chop developing in the afternoon. It will be partly cloudy and temperatures up to 26°C.
LOUIS VUITTON CUP – SEMI-FINAL GROUP 1 day 5
R5 – USA NYYC American Magic v ITA Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
R6 – ITA Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli v USA NYYC American Magic
LOUIS VUITTON CUP – SEMI-FINAL GROUP 2 day 5
R5 – SUI ALlinghi Red Bull Racing v GBR INEOS Britannia
R6 – GBR INEOS Britannia v SUI ALlinghi Red Bull Racing
Louis Vuitton Semi-Final after Day 2
