www.Parctel.com:Emirates Team New Zealand’s NZL 84 finished the Act 13 fleet racing regatta as top challenger, ahead of big rivals BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa.
Emirates Team New Zealand finished with 64 points, taking the maximum four bonus points into the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series which starts on 16th April.
“We finished on top of the challengers’ leader board for Act 13 and top challenger over the past three years,” Emirates Team New Zealand Managing Director, Grant Dalton, said.
“The aims at the start of the regatta were to get the four bonus points and to rotate crew positions so that everyone in the sailing team is match ready for 16th April.
“We have had a great result and this gives us encouragement for the racing ahead.”
Dalton said: “One thing we have learned during this regatta is just how good Alinghi is. Their hardware is very fast and as we’ve seen over the past few days they can get themselves out of trouble with apparent ease.”
Emirates Team New Zealand did not have a happy final race which started in a north-east breeze of 11 – 13 knots.
After being boxed in at the pre-start and then unable to tack away immediately to get clear air, Ben Ainslie and crew set about the painstaking business of recovering.
At the top mark they were up to sixth and preparing to attack on the run. Emirates Team New Zealand was then caught in a melee when Spain’s ESP 97, doing a 360 degree penalty turn for failing to keep clear on the approach to the top mark, fouled both FRA 93 and Emirates Team New Zealand as they completed it. The Spanish were immediately penalised again.
The melee cost Emirates Team New Zealand another place in the fleet and the chase was on and the climb up the fleet started again. They recovered again and were able to hold on to sixth despite a rip in the gennaker on the final run.
Sixth may have been disappointing on the day, but it was enough to give them seven points and retain the top challenger title.
Emirates, the title sponsor of leading 32nd America’s Cup contender Emirates Team New Zealand, is offering yachting enthusiasts from around the world the chance to join the elite in Valencia.
The exclusive Emirates packages are for 4-days and 3-nights and include hotel accommodation in Valencia; transfers between the hotel and the marina; a unique opportunity to actually sail or even crew a thoroughbred maxi-yacht under simulated racing conditions; a guided tour of the Emirates Team New Zealand base; race viewing from the Emirates Team New Zealand VIP boat; and onboard hospitality. Further information on how to book the packages can be found at www.emirates.com.
Emirates Team New Zealand NZL84 bowman Stu Bettany prepares the spinnaker at the first top mark rounding of race six of the Louis Vuitton Act 13. Emirates Team New Zealand finished the Act 13 fleet racing regatta as the top challenger. They take the maximum four bonus points into the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series which starts on 16th April.
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