Long night for the boat builders

Emirates Team New Zealand shore crew are in for a long night repairing damage to NZL84.

The yacht was damaged in the second race today between Emirates Team New Zealand and the Italian team Mascalzone Latino.

Providing there’s no major structural damage – and first inspection indicated that there was none – boat builders are convinced NZL 84 will be ready for racing tomorrow.

The collision at the top mark brought a sensational and premature end to Mascalzone Latino’s first day’s racing.

Emirates Team New Zealand boat builders advised the Italians not to race upwind and to abandon the race in case NZL84 had incurred structural damage.

Damage to NZL92 was confined to the spinnaker pole which was brought ashore in three pieces. The collision occurred after Dean Barker forced the action well above the mark.

Barker broke off the engagement and led back into the mark with Mascalzone Latino’s skipper Gavin Brady attacking. As the protracted confrontation continued, the Italian boat was close to head to wind and carrying a red-flag penalty as Barker attempted to duck behind him.

NZL92’s spinnaker pole penetrated the starboard quarter of NZL84, just forward of the runners, a major structural part of the boat.

In the first race, Mascalzone Latino got the better of the light and shifty breeze winning by 27 sec.