What a yacht race...

[Patrick]

Nothing traitorouse about Kiwis sailing for other syndicates. These guys are proffessional sailors and if another syndicate comes up with a better offer why should they not take it. This nationality thing is all bullshit promoted by the media reporting. The Swiss or Italians or the Americans or whatever. The sooner some you guys understand this you might just have a bit more respect or kiwi sailors. We are the best in the world. So others know that too. Enjoy the compliment while it lasts. Nothing ever stays the same forever.

Skyryder

Just a shame they can't get them all in the same boat together again... the cup would be home tomorrow...

[rwh]

Just a shame they can't get them all in the same boat together again... the cup would be home tomorrow...

Time to bring back the big boat you think?

Goodish race last night (and the first one I've watched) - don't understand gybing away while only 25m behind, but I guess they had their reasons.

Richard

[$CENSLS1$]

Tough race last night, I think we really had to win last night's one to have any chance of bringing the cup home to NZ..Now that we're 4-2 down I think we have lost our momentem and it might be at least another 4 years before we see the cup again..I still can't help thinking that the whole 'Protest over the man up the mast' was what got us off track..I still think we should have stuck to beating them on the water and not be distracted by something so insignificant

Anyhow, great job guys and goodluck for the next race

[RantyDave]

don't understand gybing away while only 25m behind

I didn't see the race - was it on the second downwind leg? If so, there's a simple explanation: Because they were behind.

One of the luxuries of being behind with the finish line looming is that you can try whatever you want because it doesn't matter - it's not like the situation is going to get any worse. It's also remarkably difficult to pass going downwind, certainly at this level, and so you do need to try something radical.

The best passing manoeuvre I ever saw was what Russell Coutts did to Dean Barker in the only even moderately close race of the last America's Cup: Coming from behind he drew him into a luff using the only hard and fast rule of being ahead on the last leg (stay between the finish line and the second place boat); he then used the luff to collapse TNZ's kite and slice round and underneath for the win. Imaginative, cruel, and exactly the kind of thing that makes these guys a hundred times better at this sport than you or I could ever dream of being.

Dave

[Patrick]

Thats what I couldn't figure... move the boat a little and block/take the wind right out of Alinghis sails... sorted.

[rwh]

I didn't see the race - was it on the second downwind leg? If so, there's a simple explanation: Because they were behind.

One of the luxuries of being behind with the finish line looming is that you can try whatever you want because it doesn't matter - it's not like the situation is going to get any worse. It's also remarkably difficult to pass going downwind, certainly at this level, and so you do need to try something radical.

They never sail directly downwind, so there's always an upwind side. At 25m and closing, if you go round the upwind side, you should be able to just keep gaining till you're right along side. If Alinghi gybed to get away, they'd lose a bit of time because they're slower at it than TNZ. I'm not sure what the rules are on luffing in AC; normally I think you're not allowed to sail above your 'proper course'? Maybe they don't have that rule.

I'd like to have seen more of the 'virtual eye' wind disturbance graphics around that time though.

Richard

[Reckless]

Nothing traitorouse about Kiwis sailing for other syndicates. These guys are proffessional sailors and if another syndicate comes up with a better offer why should they not take it. This nationality thing is all bullshit promoted by the media reporting. The Swiss or Italians or the Americans or whatever. The sooner some you guys understand this you might just have a bit more respect or kiwi sailors. We are the best in the world. So others know that too. Enjoy the compliment while it lasts. Nothing ever stays the same forever.

Skyryder

Jeepers skyryder if you read ALL of my original post you would have seen I agree with you. They can take whatever deal they like, with whoever they like.
But when I watch Butterworth beat us, I still have that same feeling. As I said quite clearly its against my better judgment, but its still there. And if I had a dollar for everyone that felt the same I'd bet I'd be doing O'K.