Broken gear leads to loss

A horizontal split near the top of the jib and a failed lock at the top of the mast cost Emirates Team New Zealand any chance of winning its race against All4One  at La Maddalena today.

The split started as they crossed the start line in the match against the French-German  All4One.

Skipper Dean Barker said: “We got the start we wanted to the right of All4One but as we came off the line  the jib failed compromising our speed build.  We had to tack away from a strong position and started losing distance.

All4One  took advantage of the opportunity presented to them and as Emirates Team New Zealand nursed the failing jib, All4One started to build  a lead.

On board  Emirates Team New Zealand the job was to keep the sail together as much as possible and minimise the losses while preparing for an attacking opportunity on the downwind leg. 

The opportunity didn’t come on the run as crew worked to ready another jib for the second beat  At the hoist, the team got the second shock of the race: one of the locks at the top of the rig failed and they could not set the  sail properly.

Dean Barker: “Again our up-wind speed was compromised. We had to keep the game as close as we could and try to bustle ALL4One into error. But they sailed well and did exactly what we would have done had the situation been reversed.

“When you’re racing borrowed boats and supplied equipment you make the best of what you’re given. We’re not alone in that.”

The final delta was 21s.

Saturday’s results:

TeamOrigin b Luna Rossa by 37s

Azzurra b Synergy by 18s

Artemis b Azzurra by 15s

Synergy beat Artemis (DNF)

All4One beat Emirates Team New Zealand by 21s

Leaderboard after Day 8

Synergy won 5 – lost 4. 5 points

Artemis 3-2, 5 points

Emirates Team New Zealand  4-2, 4 points

TeamOrigin  4-3, 4 points

All4One  4-3, 4 points

Mascalzone Latino 4-1. 3 points

Azzurra 3-4, 2points

Luna Rossa 2-6. 2 points

BMW Oracle 1-5, 1 point

Aleph 2-4, -2 points

Mascalzone Latino have been penalised by the jury.

Tomorrow:

Emirates Team New Zealand is matched against BMW Oracle and Artemis. First two races of the day.