(the heading.... a direct quote from Terry Hutchinson who just phoned here moments ago.)
New Zealand, after a great start, held the advantage at the weather mark. The expectation has been that Alinghi would be faster in 14knots and more. This did not appear to be the case today and it looked like we were set up for a very close race. What a pity that the result was decided by gear failure! In a bit of breeze (which it was for these boats) gear failure is an ever-present fear.
Watch the videoA few minutes after both boats did a tack set, New Zealand’s bowman was seen going to the end the pole with the tack of the back up spinnaker, to set up for a peel. It became evident that there was a small tear close to the tack of the spinnaker.
Unluckily for the New Zealanders, just before they were ready for the peel, the spinnaker blew, knocking the bow man off his perch at the end of the pole. The new spinnaker was not properly attached at the tack with the peeling strop and was hoisted prematurely. (Will the debrief point to a case of bow bungle or grinder red mist?) The back up spinnaker then blew around behind the main. The head of the original spinnaker had to then be retrieved because they had now run out of haliards. To add to their horror, when the second back up kite went up there was a twist in it. By the time the new spinnaker was flying and the second spinnaker was “tender-dropped”, they were on the layline.
Although the chaos on the bow was somehow sorted out in time for them to gybe, Alinghi was already safely ahead. Teams spend a lot of time smoothing out every possible sharp point on the boat, especially around the hatch and headstay foil area to prevent a knick in the spinnaker, but these things happen. Looking forward to a great battle tomorrow! (www.americascup.com)
Watch the videoA few minutes after both boats did a tack set, New Zealand’s bowman was seen going to the end the pole with the tack of the back up spinnaker, to set up for a peel. It became evident that there was a small tear close to the tack of the spinnaker.
Unluckily for the New Zealanders, just before they were ready for the peel, the spinnaker blew, knocking the bow man off his perch at the end of the pole. The new spinnaker was not properly attached at the tack with the peeling strop and was hoisted prematurely. (Will the debrief point to a case of bow bungle or grinder red mist?) The back up spinnaker then blew around behind the main. The head of the original spinnaker had to then be retrieved because they had now run out of haliards. To add to their horror, when the second back up kite went up there was a twist in it. By the time the new spinnaker was flying and the second spinnaker was “tender-dropped”, they were on the layline.
Although the chaos on the bow was somehow sorted out in time for them to gybe, Alinghi was already safely ahead. Teams spend a lot of time smoothing out every possible sharp point on the boat, especially around the hatch and headstay foil area to prevent a knick in the spinnaker, but these things happen. Looking forward to a great battle tomorrow! (www.americascup.com)
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