Feature Story27.06.2008 (00:08 CET) - Valencia (ES) Countdown to victory: 32nd America’s Cup Match Race 4 |
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 Few seconds after the start of Race 4. (Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
Yesterday was a nail-biting race with the lead changing six times between Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand. The Swiss Defender fought back from 1.23 minutes behind to round the 2nd windward mark 15 seconds ahead, however, on the final run, in increasingly light and shifty conditions ETNZ snatched back the lead in the final few minutes to cross the finish line ahead by 25 seconds. |
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Bowman
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Pieter van Nieuwenhuyzen
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Midbowman
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Curtis Blewett
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Mastman
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Francesco Rapetti
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Pitman
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Josh Belsky
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Grinder
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Mark McTeigue
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Grinder
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Matt Welling
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Trimmer
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Simon Daubney
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Trimmer
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Lorenzo Mazza
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Grinder
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Will McCarthy
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Mainsail trimmer
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Warwick Fleury
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Strategist / traveller
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Murray Jones
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Runner / pitman
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Dean Phipps
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Runner / grinder
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Rodney Ardern
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Navigator
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Juan Vila
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Afterguard – Runner
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Ernesto Bertarelli
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Tactician
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Brad Butterworth
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Helmsman
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Ed Baird
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Alinghi facts:
- Sail number: SUI100
- Yacht Club: Société Nautique de Genève
- Country: Switzerland
- Syndicate established: 2000
- Syndicate head: Ernesto Bertarelli
- Skipper: Brad Butterworth
- Helmsman: Ed Baird
- Designer: Rolf Vrolijk and the Alinghi design team
- Builder: Décision S.A Switzerland and the Alinghi boatbuilding team
- Website: www.alinghi.com
Race 4 – pairing notice
Defender Vs Challenger
Alinghi (SUI100) Vs Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL92)
- Alinghi, the Defender of the America’s Cup, has the yellow flag, which means starboard entry in to the starting box.
- Emirates Team New Zealand, Challenger, has the blue flag, port entry in to the starting box.
Trivia of the day
Did you know? …the team drank 14,000 litres of water in May?
On this day in1889, the Royal Yacht Squadron, represented by Lord Dunraven, withdrew its challenge for the America’s Cup due to the New York Yacht Club requiring the Royal Yacht Squadron to continue racing under the same terms of the Deed of Gift should the challenge be successful. It would take another four years of negotiating before the first challenge under the heavily revised third Deed of Gift would begin. The Deed of Gift had been unilaterally amended in 1887 and immediately received widespread condemnation and criticism from British and European yacht clubs, as well as from the sporting press on both sides of the Atlantic.
On this day in2006, Alinghi defeated Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team by 52 seconds in Louis Vuitton Act 12.
32nd America’s Cup Match Race 4: Evening News
ALINGHI EVENS 32ND AMERICA'S CUP MATCH AT 2-2
Alinghi evened the thrilling 32nd America’s Cup Match against Emirates Team New Zealand at 2-all today with a 30-second victory.
After two difficult races that saw ETNZ open a 2-1 lead, Alinghi got back on the winning track with a solid start, tight covering tactics and good boat speed in a wire-to-wire victory. Strategist, Murray Jones, comments on the day: “Obviously winning today lifts everyone. It was a tight race and we sailed well the whole way round so it gives us more confidence.”
The wind conditions today were the same as yesterday, blowing from the northeast around 10 knots, but with smaller shifts. In a change of pre-start tactics, Alinghi started to the right of ETNZ. Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird waited patiently to windward of ETNZ counterpart Dean Barker as both approached the start line with Barker in the controlling position to leeward. With about 30 seconds to go, Barker put his bow down and Baird followed. Baird timed his slingshot onto the racecourse slightly better and crossed the start line 1 second ahead of the challenger.
“We got a last minute call from Jon Bilger, our weather man, to take the right and Ed did a fantastic job in the pre-start so we got a beautiful start to the right of Emirates Team New Zealand. We eventually managed to get better boat speed and that was really the race won as we managed to hold all the way out to the layline and capitalise on that, it was great,” describes Murray Jones.
In a non-confrontational first beat, Alinghi and ETNZ rode starboard tack for more than 16 minutes all the way to the port layline, with Alinghi to windward and holding a slim advantage. When both boats tacked to port Alinghi had a stronger position and was able to extend its lead to 20 seconds at the first mark. It was the first time in the series both boats used just one tack on an upwind leg.
Alinghi increased its lead on the first run to 34 seconds at the leeward gate. The Defender continued to lead at the second windward mark by 25 seconds. On the final leg of the 12 nautical mile race the two crews exchanged 23 gybes, but Alinghi kept the game tight and never let ETNZ separate by more than 500 metres en route to the final 30-second delta.
As for what is planned for tomorrow’s layday, Murray is candid: “I’m going to recover on the day off and hopefully my body will recover! I have been knocked around up the mast a bit lately!”
The 28 June was a layday; don’t miss the layday feature on www.alinghi.com !
Racing for the 32nd America’s Cup will resume on the 29 June with Race 5.
Alinghi leading the race ahead ETNZ on the first downwind mark. Valencia (Spain) 27th june 2007. 32nd America's Cup Match. Day 4 Race 4.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
America's Cup Port with on background all the spectators boats guetting into the Darsena.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
Just after the start of Race4. All the spectators boats and the media boats following the two boats to the upwind mark.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
Final Leg, Alinghi leading the race, sailing on the right side of the diamond.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
Murray Jones, afterguard, up to the mast controlling the last downwind leg.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
Last leg of Race4. Alinghi leading and arriving to the finish line.
(Photo credit: Ivo Rovira/Alinghi)
GUESTBOOK
Country: SwitzerlandBravo Alinghi ! Merci de nous avoir fait rêver
Pour avoir eu la chance de vous avoir côtoyer en 2003 à Auckland, je trouve le chemin parcouru jusqu’ici… tout simplement prodigieux. Une équipe, une vraie
Il n’y a aucun regret à avoir. Dans tous sports, on peut être le meilleur et perdre une fois. Un exemple : Federer. Et il est à nouveau N° 1 mondial.
Je suis certain qu’une fois la déception digérée, Alinghi va revenir encore plus fort et surtout aller rechercher cette aiguière, et en Amérique. Yes we can.
Encore Bravo et merci à tout le team.
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