Note: This video corresponds to Thursday’s racing action. The Louis Vuitton Trophy organizers publish their videos the following day!

Video highlights from the 6th day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Nice, 12 November 2009. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Emirates Team NZ, fresh winner of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, got delivery on Monday afternoon of their brand new TP52 yacht from Cookson yachts. The Botín-designed boat was officially launched later that day and will be used by the kiwi team in the 2009 Audi Medcup circuit.

The brand new TP52 arrives at the Emirates Team NZ base. Auckland, 16 February 2009. Photo copyright Kiwi Magic

The brand new TP52 arrives at the Emirates Team NZ base. Auckland, 16 February 2009. Photo copyright Kiwi MagicThe brand new TP52 arrives at the Emirates Team NZ base. Auckland, 16 February 2009. Photo copyright Kiwi Magic

In a rematch of the America’s Cup races in Valencia in 2007, the first point went today to the America’s Cup holder, in brisk conditions.

According to Ray Davies, Emirates Team NZ tactician, his team executed the planned prestart procedure, seeking to position the boat on the pin end of the starting line because they thought it would be favored. In the 30 minutes preceding the start they had observed that trend and hoped it would continue. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t.

Ed Baird admitted not having a strong position in the prestart, he just found a hole on the line a placed the yacht but, more importantly, on the committee boat end. The wind didn’t finally shift left and the Swiss yacht was clearly in a more favorable position. They led throughout the first beat but could feel the Kiwis breathe on their neck. They rounded the top mark just 12 seconds ahead of them.

The race could have stayed very close and tight if it wasn’t for a slight crew error during a gybe on the New Zealand boat, proving once again that the Series will be won by the team that commits the least errors. The spinnaker halyard slipped, giving Alinghi a further precious 10 seconds of advantage. They rounded the leeward gate with a 20-second lead and form that point made an excellent job in covering the New Zealanders, never giving them the possibility to pass.

The Americas’ Cup holder crossed the finish line 22 seconds ahead of the Louis vuitton Cup winner.

After waiting until 3:30pm, Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio canceled the day’s sailing. With the breeze constantly close to 30 knots it was impossible to hold any further races.

My apologies for the photos, but it’s damn hard to sit on the bow of the umpire boat, taking pictures and making sure the camera doesn’t get soaked, with 25 knots of breeze and choppy seas.

Prestart of Race 1 of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series final. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand in the prestart procedure of the first race. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi takes the right side in the first beat. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

On the other hand, Emirates Team NZ looks for that left shift that never came. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

In the first crossing, Alinghi is already ahead. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi is comfortably ahead at the approach to the 1st weather mark. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ sailing towards the 1st weather mark. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ round the 1st weather mark. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi is leading the race at the beginning of the 1st run. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

While Alinghi is sailing smoothly in the 1st run…. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

… disaster strikes on the Emirates Team NZ boat. The spinnaker halyard slips. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Tense moments on the Emirates Team NZ boat as the spinnaker halyard slips. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Tense moments on the Emirates Team NZ boat as the spinnaker halyard slips. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Tense moments on the Emirates Team NZ boat as the spinnaker halyard slips. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ opts for the right buoy of the leeward gate. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi keep their lead in the 2nd beat. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team NZ round the 2nd top mark 25 seconds behind Alinghi. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Last leg of the race and Alinghi powers ahead. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The America’s Cup holders sail flawlessly and pocket one point. Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

This Kiwi is smiling… Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

This Kiwi is not smiling… Auckland, 13 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

[Source: LV Pacific Series] Switzerland triumphed in a face-off between America’s Cup winners Ed Baird and Russell Coutts this morning. Steering Switzerland’s Alinghi, Baird slammed the gate on Coutts and BMW Oracle on the start line and went on to win the challenger finals of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series 2-0.

Tomorrow Alinghi meets host Emirates Team New Zealand at the beginning of a two-day, seven-race regatta for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy.

Today’s race marked the end of 13 days of high-energy match racing to select a finalist to race against Emirates Team New Zealand. The home team raced in two round robins with nine international teams from eight countries but sat out the sail-off series that finished today.

TV New Zealands reports on Alinghi’s convincing victory over BMW Oracle. Auckland, 12 February 2009. Video copyright TV New Zealand

Yesterday, the Swiss team, skippered by Kiwi Brad Butterworth with Baird steering, pulled off a shock victory against Coutts and his American team. Coutts had led the entire race but lost by one second.

“You can always reflect on things that might have been and yesterday I think perhaps we got a little complacent at the end of the race,” Coutts said. “The finishing line was heavily biased towards the committee boat end and it is a pretty elementary thing to spot, but we sort of missed that, so that was our fatal error.”

Today, with the threat of heavy wind this afternoon, racing started early in a 15-knot northerly and for Coutts and the Americans it was over before the start gun fired as Baird blocked his approach to the start line.

Oracle had enjoyed the advantage of the right hand entry at the five minute gun and engaged Alinghi in a couple of tight circles, the boats only metres apart. With 1:30 remaining, both boats were lining up for the start inside the starboard layline with Oracle astern and to weather.

As they approached the line Baird remained on starboard but pointed his bow straight at the committee boat. Coutts had nowhere to go and went head to wind as Baird bore off at speed right close to the committee boat.

Coutts could only follow slowly dead astern in his opponent’s wake. The American boat was trailing by 40 metres just moments after the start and never threatened Alinghi as the margin opened out to 58 seconds at the second weather mark and over a minute at the finish

“We were in quite a nice position today and had plenty of time to assess the options coming on the final approach to the start,” Coutts said ruefully. “We burned up a little too much time when we didn’t need to.”

Asked if problems with his boat’s trim tab affected steering during the start, Coutts acknowledged that there was a problem with its control chain a couple of minutes before the start. “That’s not why we lost though,” he said emphatically. “No excuses. We lost the race.”

Asked if he’d return to New Zealand for a similar event, Coutts said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the racing over the last few weeks. I think it’s a fantastic event and I think in these economic times the idea that Louis Vuitton and Emirates Team New Zealand have come up with where all the teams race in borrowed boats, rather than shipping boats all around the world is frankly a commercial reality. There’s no question in my mind that this format works, it’s something that should be looked at in future.”

The much awaited first race of the Challenger final of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series followed the form book. The America’s Cup Defender beat BMW Oracle after trailing up to the finish line, proving once again that in such tight and close matches you only win you if commit the least possible errors.

It all appeared, at least at the beginning, that Russell Coutts and BMW Oracle would have continued their winning streak of the day and return to port with three wins under their belt, in three races. They had a clean start with a slight edge, were ahead in the first crossing and rounded the top weather mark with a slim advantage.

In the first run Baird fiercely attacked the American boat but again Coutts rounded the leeaward gate ahead, even if it was by only 2 seconds. In the second beat the BMW Oracle played well the left shift and built a nice lead at the second top mark. Nevertheless, the same shift that gave them the lead would put them into trouble in the last stretch of the race.

According to PRO Peter Reggio, when he moves the top mark due to a change in the race course, he readjusts accordingly the finish line by moving the pin end, in order for the race course to square. Both teams were informed but according to Hamish Pepper, tactician on BMW Oracle, his team forgot to adjust its strategy to that fact.

In the last stretch of the race, the two yachts split apart and Alinghi sailed towards the committee boat. A small puff of wind pushed the Swiss boat towards the finish line, stealing the victory from BMW Oracle by just 1 second.

The preatart lacked the thrills of the previous days and Alinghi crossed the line trailing BMW Oracle. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

At the very first crossing of the race, BMW Oracle was ahead. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle starts the 1st run in a leading position. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

Halfway through the 1st run Brad Butterworth checks upon BMW Oracle. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

Racing couldn’t get any closer in the 1st run. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

Alinghi’s foredeck getting ready to round the leeward gate. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle opts for the right buoy of the leeward gate. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle is still ahead in the 2nd beat. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle rounds the 2nd top mark with a comfortable advantage. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle starts the final run leading the race. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

That’s where it goes wrong for BMW Oracle. They don’t cover Alinghi and allow the two boats to separate. They head to the pin end while Alinghi opts for the committee boat. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

After trailing for more than 1 hour, Alinghi crosses the finish line 1 second ahead of BMW Oracle. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orpahnidis / Valencia Sailing

Dean Barker might think he is the world’s best sailor but his mentor Russell Coutts showed today he’s not to be dismissed yet. In the second quarterfinal of the day, against Luna Rossa, the 3-times America’s Cup winner steered the BMW Oracle to a decisive victory, even after getting a penalty.

Coutts got the upper hand in the prestart and crossed the line 4 seconds ahead of Luna Rossa. BMW Oracle maintained the lead until the 1st weather mark and rounded slightly ahead. It was a close situation in which both yachts got a penalty. Still, a couple of boatlengths ahead, Russell Coutts gybed in front of the Luna Rossa yacht and received a penalty. Even if it appeared to be in a difficult position, Coutts showed his skills later on. Through good boats speed and tactics, BMW Oracle managed to gain that additional meter in every maneuver that would give them breathing space in order to offload the penalty. And so they did.

Taking advantage of a puff of wind in the last run they built the margin required and carried out a perfect penalty turn on the finish line, crossing it a second ahead.

It was an uneventful prestart in the quarterfinal between Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Peter Holmberg steering Luna Rossa during the the first beat. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa approach the first top mark. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ready for the genoa drop on Luna Rossa. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle gybe in front of Luna Rossa and receive penalty. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle gybe in front of Luna Rossa and receive penalty. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa in the first run. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Spinnaker drop on Luna Rossa. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle starts the 2nd beat in the lead. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle rounds the 2nd top mark in the lead. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle keeps increasing its advantage in the last run. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle make their penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle wins the race thanks to the perfect penalty turn. Auckland, 11 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

We couldn’t have asked for a closer race, especially on a day like Tuesday, marked by rain, mist, unstable and light winds, long delays and finally canceled races. The match between Luna Rossa, skippered by Peter Holmberg, and China Team, helmed by Ian Williams, initially appeared to be a no-brainer but turned out into the closest and most emotional match. Luna Rossa’s bow crossed the finish line less than half a meter ahead of China Team’s. Valencia Sailing was on the umpire boat, right in the middle of the action.

The committee end of the starting line was strongly favored and both helmsmen fought hard to get it in the prestart. It was Luna Rossa that finally achieved it but had to pay the price of a penalty. Both yachts hit the line on starboard tack but with Luna Rossa having the advantage. The first beat was a long drag race with one tack, dominated by Luna Rossa. The Italians rounded the first weather mark 14 seconds ahead and stayed in the lead throughout the race. As Williams stated, a number of small errors gave Peter Holmberg the possibility to stretch the lead to the 4.5-5 boatlengths, necessary to unload the penalty right at the finish line.

Yet, it wasn’t as simple as this. The strong current made things harder for Holmberg, who jokingly stated that he had done a number of penalty turns in his career. Normally, it wouldn’t have been a problem and in hindsight they would have gubed and then tacked but finally, they made it even if it was by only half a meter.

Luna Rossa will now have to race against BMW Oracle in the quarterfinals. In the other race of the day Team Origin comfortably beat Pataugas K-Challenge and now moves to the quarterfinals where it will face Damiani Italia. Both races, as well as the semifinals between the winners, were supposed to have taken place on Tuesday, but after a 4-hour long wait, Peter Reggio, PRO of the event, had no option but to send all boats ashore. It was impossible to get a decent and stable breeze in order to fire the starting gun.

Quotes of the race

Ian Williams, helmsman on China Team:“We took a conservative option in the start knowing Luna Rossa was carrying a penalty and this is what you normally do in match racing. In hindsight, the race was lost because of a number of small errors. It was the first time we raced on the Team New Zealand boats and, believe me, they are quite different. At the leeward gate we lost precious time because exactly we didn’t handle the boat correctly. It’s tough in these sudden-death matches because you don’t have the luxury to learn during the race. If you lose you are out.

We are satisfied with our performance in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Our goal was to improve in every race and I think we have achieved it. Don’t forget we were the only team to come without any training whatsoever on America’s Cup boats and it now appears it was an error. Our aim is to continue and as you know we have challenged for the 33rd America’s Cup. Nevertheless, it’s a wait-and-see situation and everything depends on the final court decision. Unfortunately, it is already hard in the current economic situation, we have the added uncertainty”.

Prestart of the race between Luna Rossa and China Team. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Peter Holmberg positions himself to take the right side, risking a penalty. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa gets a penalty but gains the advantage of holding the right side. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The first beat was a long drag race with only one tack. Unfortunately for Ian Williams he was on the unfavored left side. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Match racing champion Ian Williams steers the boat towards the first weather mark. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa started the first run with a 14-second advantage. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa rounds the leeward gate 19 seconds ahead of China Team. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Crew handling errors at the leeward gate cost China Team more precious meters. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa stretched their lead in the last run. In the other race, Team Origin was comofortably ahead of Pataugas K-Challenge. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It’s not the same race but a nice picture though. Ben Ainslie, Bart Simpson, Iain Percy, Mark Sanderson et al were no match for the French. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa are offloading their penalty. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Luna Rossa are offloading their penalty while China Team are pushed by the wind towards the finish line. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It’s going to be down to the wire. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

What flag did the committee raise? Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It’s all hugs and kisses on the Italian boat as they beat the Chinese by a split second. Auckland, 10 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

It was three out of three for Greek Challenge on Monday and a fantastic end to their participation in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. The America’s Cup newcomers from Greece met the South African team for the third time, and were victorious in the sail-off for 8th challenger spot in this prestigious event.

Similar to the other two races, the prestart was aggressive but again Brady got the upper hand, crossing the line with great style in what was described as one of the most convincing starts of the regatta. The Greeks stretched out a lead in the first beat, at times leaving Shosholoza 120 meters behind. The crew carried out an excellent spinnaker hoist after the mark and soon Brady put a lid on Cian’s ambitions in the run, rounding the leeward gate comfortably ahead.

Paolo Cian tries unsuccessfully to force a penalty at the 2nd weather mark. Auckland, 9 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Greek Challenge

Trying to play it safe, the Greeks sailed conservatively in the 2nd beat, giving Cian the opportunity to momentarily come back. Shosholoza then tried to get the umpires in the game by forcing a possible port-starboard incident at the second weather mark but didn’t succeed. The Greek boat was on the left layline powering on towards the mark while Shosholoza was slowing down on the right one. The two boats were on collision course but Brady had more than enough space to safely round the buoy ahead of the South African team.

Greek Challenge didn’t give their opponent any breathing space in the last run, making sure they matched them gybe for gybe. A good tactical call on the last stretch allowed the Greek boat to take advantage of a puff of wind on the right side of the course and gain an additional couple of boat lengths, crossing the finish line half a minute ahead of Shosholoza.

The Greek team leaves Auckland on a very positive note. The sailing team was formed a mere month ago, trained only one week in Valencia onboard the K-Challenge boats and then another few days in Auckland, prior to the start of official racing. The goal of sailing competitively has been achieved by the Greek team and the 3 wins are the icing on the cake. The foundations have been laid for more success in the future.

Greek Challenge rounds the 2nd weather mark ahead of Shosholoza. Auckland, 9 February 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Greek Challenge

Quotes of the day

Gavin Brady (NZL), helmsman of Greek Challenge: “It’s a pity the event ends here for us. The Greek crew has accomplished a dramatic improvement throughout the last couple of weeks and we are indeed impressed.

Cian tried to put the umpires in the game in the 2nd weather mark but they didn’t have any chance. There was no way we could have gotten into trouble since we were accelerating towards the mark while they were slowing down. In addition, we once again carried out excellent gybes and were able to get a nice puff at the last stretch of 2nd run and gain a couple of boat lengths more.”

Sotiris Buseas (GRE), aft grinder and Greek Challenge CEO: “For Greek Challenge it was the right decision to come to the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. It is the right platform for world-class sailing and on any given day any team had its chance to win. We learned a lot from our Kiwi and South African crew, in fact, we learned a lot from any sailor that raced against us and we deeply thank them for that.

We will now return to Greece and transfer our knowledge and know-how to the rest of the Greek sailing community. This is not the end of our campaign, just the beginning”.