Well another day, another race completed in the America’s Cup.
Alinghi bounced back and levelled the score at 2-all in the best of nine race series.
Alinghi got a slight edge at the start and kept it through better boat positioning.
Going into the last 30 seconds of the prestart the New Zealanders looked quite strong and were leading back. I thought that Team New Zealand won the start but at the last crucial three or four seconds Alinghi got their bow up quicker than the New Zealanders and jumped over the line. It also looked like they got a bit of right hand pressure as well.
They went all the way to the port lay line. To live in that windward position all the way to the layline, so be it they were slightly bow forward, would indicate that Alinghi had a slight speed edge over New Zealand.
They got all the way to the lay line, Alingh tacked and the New Zealanders were forced to follow in. Really that was probably the match.
The America’s Cup Jury will hear a protest from Team New Zealand tonight (NZT) regarding Alinghi’s use of a crewman to assist their mainsail down in race four. The class rule states that “the mainsails should be able to be lowered to the deck with out the necessity of a crew member going up aloft.” The measurers boarded the two yachts for a routine check after race four. Because of the rough sea state Alinghi asked if they could send a crewman up to put a halyard on loosely. The measurer agreed which was in contravention of the rules.
Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth has been big on name calling lately. First of all he called the race committee a bunch of “wallies” for not controlling the spectators then yesterday he called some the media “uneducated” for asking about what happened with the measurer and the mainsail yesterday.
The rules state “the mainsails should be able to be lowered to the deck with out the necessity of a crew member going up aloft.”
To see a guy up the rig when the main is coming down it would be unintelligent of us not to ask.
I was going to go to bed early… I guess I’ll have to wait until 23:00 tonight (NZ).
Although this decision is about a fairly minor technicality the outcome of this ruling could be crucial for ETNZ.
Right on Mr Lester, I could see a guy up the rig, you could see a guy up the rig, clear cut I would have thought. I guess TNZ will be sailing without a main sail next race cause it was so badly damaged in the drop.
Makes me wonder what other rules Alinghi are breaking.
HI PETER, I absolutely agree with you!!!! ETNZ has all rights to protest against Alinghi…..As I wrote yesterday, I have some suspects about that…..EMMMMM..
We have only one hour to know more about it…I am waiting for the 2 pm to hear the decision…
wht time will we find out do u no?
I don’t know, i am going to follow news especially by internet in the afternoon…
well it must be nice living in italy as u dont have to go to bead about now (it is 11.45 over here), but i got google alerts for any thing that comes up “Alinghi Protest” so if i wake up it is just a quick flick into gmail
All I can say is that by 12h30 Valencian time when they did the first break (protest finally started at 11h00), the only thing they said was that the protest had been accepted. Then the hearing of evidence started. When they later went out on the second break (around 13h30), the word was that they had been told not to comment anything until the end of the procedure, but everyone thought it was going to be loooong. No one expected a decision at least before 15h00, more like 16h00 or 17h00.
And in the meantime, the press in camping n front of ACM’s offices…
thanks Valencian AC Fan, Im off to bed now then, i dont really want to waste my one night with sleep this week up to 3am NZ time waiting…I had just go into that method of saying just another 10min etc
Who is Peter Lester working for….I am tired of TVones commentary and cannot understand why if Peter is part of their Team why is he not being used as I regard him as the best … and perhaps Radio Sport can send over Miles Davis and then we will know exactly what is happening?
Peter is commentating for ACM’s official English language commentary, rather than that of any particalar TV network.
thank you Valencian Ac cup!!!! your information are always precious…we are going to wait!
Tom…I am sorry for you that you have to get up early in the night….. but it is for a good reason!!!!
Last info: protest dismissed
More to come…
yes, I have just read on radio nz site…..
http://www.rule69blog.com/
If anyone actually thought that TNZ’s protest was about a halyard lock then they sure are from ‘planet gullible’…Of course the protest was dismissed but that’s not the point. Alinghi squares the series and rides into port on a wave of momentum and high-fives only to be smacked down by Dirty Dalton roughing them up in the playground – it’s classic gamesmanship and I, for one, think it’s brilliant.
Get under the skin of Alinghi, give them sleepless nights wondering ‘what if?’ and take every inch that you can. Sport is all in the mind and Dalton’s playing a great game.
I expect a counter-protest tomorrow or maybe we should pin our expectations on a collision to really spice things up!
Interesting that the decision is noted as not being unanimous (even though some in the media are making out it was a clear-cut decision). Therefore ETNZ were right to do something: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4111562a10.html
Anyway, today is another day. I actually don’t care who wins this now (although my heart wants ETNZ, obviously), it’s shaping up to be a great series with plenty of drama – something that’s been missing from most of the recent ACs. ETNZ have already proven themselves to me through their amazing efforts in the Acts and Louis Vuitton series. Taking the AC would be awesome but I suspect Ernesto really wants to retain it this time (read the news about him hiking the fees for the next event).
Go ETNZ!
G’day Guys. The protest has been thrown out – so lets go sailing!
This will come as no surprise to you guys, but I have it on good authority (passed on from a close relative of Brad’s in ValeNZia, as it happens) that Alinghi have been ‘really rattled’ by the competitiveness of ETNZ. Alinghi went into this ‘supremely confident’ and as we have seen, there’s a good possibility their defence could be de-railed.
Now we all know this to be likely – by studying the reaction from Alinghi (especilly Brad and Ernie) but it’s good to get some confirmation from the horses mouth, as it were.
So what’s going to happen tonight, guys? Anybody got an eye on what the weather is doing?
Hi Guys. If you’re like me and missing all the hoop-la of being at the dock side in ValeNZia, check out these sound bites from Radio NZ: “Join the fans for a Kiwi moment”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/americascup/join_the_fans_for_a_kiwi_moment
Fair dinkum mates….it gave me goose bumps!!!! Bring it on. Go the boyson the black, grey, red and a splash of white boat!
Hey David G, do you really know a close relly of Braddles? I don’t smell bulsh%t do I?
Btw, I just loooooove your description of ETNZ’s boat, ROFLMFAO!
G’day Jays. Another big day in ValeNZia, Buddy.
What I posted is FACT. I do know the source of that information (personally) and he is reliable.
It’s a bit early to say Alinghi are on the ropes, but another win tonight might just about set their fate I reckon. Go ETNZ.
Grey? I thought it was *silver* Hehe
Doh! Of course you are right, Julian. It is SILVER. A bit like saying the Aussies wear green and yellow!!! A bit of a fox pass that one. SORRY!
Ooops! sorry David, my perception of this board has been tainted by the presence of TSFKARC (The sailor formerly known as Russell Coutts)
Thats good that they’re rattled, cos we need all the advantage we can get.
Alot of interesting comment coming through..Okay, the jury dismissed the protest, am not happy with it, as rule 31:6 clearly states……
Hmmm, so there’s no ‘appeal procedure’ then?? Kinda sucks don’t ya think for an event that’s a worldwide one.
1am tomm morning NZ time, Dean & the boys will need to change pre-race tactics I feel, maybe try & force Alinghi to make mistakes, in other words be aggressive buggers & then just power away from them over the line & just keep on bloody going! A tacking duel to rattle the Swiss wouldn’t go amiss either, on the second leg.
The protest failed because the management committee gave the okay for them to do it. But who cares? Us kiwis would rather win on the water anyway, the protest was more about ruffling feathers and it succeeded nicely in doing so seeing as our boys had a nice day off (except Dalts who seemed to enjoy getting out of the office), whereas several of the Alinghi guys were called in to make their case before the jury. They’re going to be pissed come tonights race. Hopefully the cameras will give us some closeups during the dialup for our amusement.
It’s not good to try and be too agressive in the start box as it’s just as easy for things to go wrong as they are to go right. So far Alinghi and ETNZ have been picking different sides of the course on nearly every race, so there isn’t much to fight over.