Extended Wait – Minimal Racing
by Emirates Team New Zealand 10 Oct 08:54 PDT
10 October 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand Women’s Team – Group A – Puig Women’s America’s Cup – October 10, 2024 © Ricardo Pinto / America’s Cup
The Puig Women’s America’s Cup resumed for the Group A teams amid challenging, variable conditions, with only one race completed after a long day for the world’s elite sailors.
With Britain’s Athena Pathway and Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli solidly positioned in the top two after a strong opening day, the contest appears to be a showdown between Emirates Team New Zealand’s Jo Aleh, Liv Mackay, Molly Meech, and Gemma Jones, and Alinghi Red Bull Racing for the last qualifying spot.
The singular race of the day showcased a contrasting performance for the Kiwis. Emirates Team New Zealand had a commanding start, taking over a 500m lead by the second leg, while Alinghi Red Bull Racing found themselves lagging in the pack. However, the lower section of the course became their downfall, allowing the Swiss team to capitalize on a line of pressure, seizing the lead and finishing the shortened race at the windward gate.
As a result, Emirates Team New Zealand now sits in fourth place overall, while the Race Committee announced a postponement of racing, with plans to resume tomorrow morning to complete the remaining three qualifying races before the top 6 semi-final series in the afternoon.
RACE 5:
At the start, ITA dominated the port end of the line closely followed by SUI. NZ appeared strong mid-line, while GBR started late at the starboard end. NZL led early. SUI struggled during their initial tack on the left boundary.
GBR began favoring the right side of the course, pursued by ITA and NZL. GBR tacked at the right boundary, letting ITA pass below while NZL narrowly avoided a mishap and maintained their flight. At the first gate, NZL navigated in on the port lay line but lost their lift during the bear-away. GBR touched down at the starboard marker but stayed aloft, trailed by ITA, with both vessels sailing at high angles downwind.
NZL found wind on the right and gybed back as GBR and ITA struggled on the left, attempting to stay airborne. ITA fell off their foils before reaching the right boundary, while GBR managed to maintain flight. NZL, looking strong, built a significant lead, rounding the leeward gate approximately 700 meters ahead. However, disaster struck for NZL as they fell off their foils on the rounding. GBR began closing the gap but faced light winds at the course’s bottom, also losing their foils near the left boundary.
SUI, gaining momentum down the course, moved into second, rounding the leeward gate ahead of GBR. The Race Committee signaled to shorten the course, finishing at the next windward gate. NZL lost lift mid-course while GBR faltered during their final gybe into the leeward gate. SUI stayed airborne and expertly executed their first tack at the left boundary to take the lead. For NZL, it was agonizing as they struggled to fly upwind.
SUI maneuvered carefully to minimize tacks but lost their foils on the subsequent tack to the right. Despite the difficult conditions, SUI regained foiling momentum and looked set for victory. After one final tack that resulted in displacement, SUI crossed the finish line to secure 10 points – a significant win for the Swiss team.
GBR caught breeze in the left quadrant, needing one tack to finish but also stalled into displacement. Nonetheless, they ghosted across the finish line, earning 7 points. USA sailed cautiously to secure their first podium position, finishing with 5 points.
Final standings: GBR 2nd, USA 3rd, ITA 4th, NZL 5th, and FRA 6th. SUI now joins the podium with three races left to compete.
