Alinghi to face BMW ORACLE Racing in DoG Match

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BMW Oracle Racings Multi-Challenger proposal to Alinghi has been rejected & Alinghi are upstanding in their demands for a originally challenge 1 on 1 Deed of Gift match as per BMW Oracle originally challenged.

The match is due to take place on Feb 8th 2010 but Alinghi have stated they are looking forward to a May 2010 defence.

The issue is likely to go back to court but one thing is for sure, we are going to see racing for the 33rd Americas Cup in Multi Hulls, the first time since 1988 in the Big Boat Challenge and this will be the first Americas Cup in over 20 years NOT to have a New Zealand challenger for the cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand have always had a 'worst case scenario' frame of mind plan in place with a conventional cup in 2011 as they are getting prepared to campaign the TP52 Circuit come May along with some rumours of more 'Team New Zealand' branded efforts possibly in the Volvo Ocean Race etc.

Stay tuned here for more details!

Emirates Team New Zealand test sail TP52

The boys took the new, slick, fresh from the shed TP52 for its first sail yesterday on the gulf and what a sight it was.

The sail number for the team's newest yacht is NZL380 & its mainsail has been decked out in new amazing koru design graphics, to go along with its very kiwi theme of the silver fern on the stern, and koru wave at the bow along with the RNZYS logo on the transom.

The team are expected to start training in earnest in March ready to ship ETNZ over to Europe for the start of the next Audi Med Cup TP52.

Emirates Team New Zealand TP52 Launch

Only days after Emirates Team New Zealand's win over Alinghi to claim the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series trophy, Cookson Boats delivered their new, shiny, TP52 class yacht to the Halsey Street base.

This will be ready in time Med Cup circuit this coming winter in NZ so the boat will be sea trialed and then packed up and posted off to Europe where we will hopefully do well in it.

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final Day 2 - EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND WIN LOUIS VUITTON PACIFIC SERIES

Race 2:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt Alinghi

Race 3:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt Alinghi

Race 4:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt Alinghi

Final Score:

Emirates Team New Zealand: 3

Alinghi: 1

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Winner: EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND!!!!

What a day, what a day. Today, the 14th of February 2009 will go down in my memory for many reasons, not only because it was the day I was born all those years ago, but for the day the New Zealand public rejoyced in the winnings of our favourite yachting team, Team New Zealand. 

It was a murky, stingy, cloudy, rainy day, similar to the conditions on the Waitemata in 2003 when we had our dismal mast breaking event in the 31st Americas Cup.

The odds were stacked against the home team. A weird performance yesterday in the first race against Alinghi, coupled with the fact that Team New Zealands performance was not really that great in Round Robin 2 saw many kiwi's doubting the team, but hell, someone must have done something last night to get the boys in focus as Team New Zealand surely came out kicking.

The common notion that LVPS races are won in the pre start is pretty spot on, so therefore that is an area that Dean Barker focused on. In each of these races, he not only managed to call himself correctly on course in the pre start but the afterguard, in particular Ray Davies did a fantastic job in calling the tactical shots. One after another, Alinghi were denied entry, Team New Zealand covered, and attacked and backed themselves all the way.

This thrilling racing had be on edge for the whole 3 races, sometimes I could not sit still and had to pace back & forth with anticipation, even through our leads were over 150m at points in the races, anything could happen as we saw yesterday as a halyard clutch for the kite gave away on the Team New Zealand boat in high winds.

The final race, Team New Zealand crossed the finish line and all you could hear was horns from all the surrounding boats, this could have been the Americas Cup!

The scene was set in the Viaduct Harbour for the teams return later this afternoon. A small stage in front of the Emirates Team New Zealand base was set up with magnums of Moet Chandon ready and waiting to be sprayed on anyone within shot. 

There was around 200 people when I arrived, that quicly swelled to a few hundred by the time the boats came in, perhaps even over 1000? Alinghi were in first and did they get a massive applause. Im not the biggest fan of the team but you got to hand it to them, they are a great team with some fantastic sailors. The 2 best teams in the world at this point of time are Alinghi & Team New Zealand and I do think Brad Butterworth is worth his rather larger weight in gold. What a fantastic sailor, maybe his ego needs to be in check but hey, hes won every Americas Cup match since 1995.

Before the teams arrived in the harbour the Royal New Zealand Army Band were on hand to give some fanfare music, how awesome was that? We were all kept waiting, 'only a few more minutes before the boats arrive' we were told over a period of 45 minutes!

The MASSIVE New Zealand flag that graced the flag pole in Valencia was bought out and strung in front of the Team New Zealand base ready for the teams arrival. 

Bruno Trouble arrived off the media boat, suitably soaked but it took him no time to get himself looking VERY sharp indeed and he was back out ready to MC the prizegiving.

Alinghi docked and were applauded as they came, along with some laughter as the Royal NZ Army band played the National Anthem of Switzerland which some people were confused, was this a joke or not? Anyhow the team arrived on stage, Brad Butterworth looking a little sheepish & uncomfortably with all his countrymens gaze upon him. It took him some time to get on stage, everyone egging him on quietly "dont be shy Brad" someone said beside me, much to the delight of the immediate crowd.

Bruno introduced the team, and the Commodore of the RNZYS presented Brad with the RNZYS Best International Team award & Challenger Fianlist award which was a weird looking spastic trophy made to look like the real LVPS trophy except made out of blue acrylic plastic.

Brad then got to say a few words to thank everyone but before he managed to say a sentence, a lone, gruff, directive voice from way back in the crowd yelled "BRADS A WANKER....!". Some awkard laughing followed before Brad took it on the chin repliying "Theres one in every crowd...", but not before a second guy piped up and said "Actually there is 2" which I found quite amusing and so did everyone else.

Brad did the normal thank you this and that etc but you could tell his was quite un happy, awkward and uncomfortably being the center of attention now that they had lost in the 'faster' boat so he put it a few days before.

After Alinghi had exited the stage, Team New Zealand had come in by now and had docked. The Viaduct had not been so alive with boat horn fanfare since the 2003 Americas Cup and was I so glad I was in the thick of it. The atmosphere was amazing. Bruno kept the crowd rolling by saying things like 'The Winners of the LVPS, Team New Zealand, We will be back here again one day when Team New Zealand bring the Americas Cup back to Auckland!!!' and with that the crowd went wild!

This was Team New Zealands moment to savour, this was for us fans to savour, a proud, sweet moment.

Dean & the boys got up on stage and with that, Bruno annouced the winners of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND!!!!

The trophy in all its sparring glory was presented to Dean Barker who held it high for all to see. Grant was next to say a few words to thanks to all invovled along with Alinghi and most of all the public for coming along. 

Next...the Moet waterfall as the boys cracked open the Moet and put it over all the team members. What a great sight with Bruno saying "Its better if you drink it!" in his lovely French accent.

I managed to get some photos of Brad and Ed Baird as they were close to where I was, some fans had some pictures but you got that feeling Brad was not feeling at all that confident now, maybe a pay cut was coming his way?

With all this the focus now was down on the Press Conferance where Bruno said in a sarcastic tone where some "Serious Disccussion" would take place.

Everyone made their way down for the Press Conferance down the end of the Village outside the old Team NZ base from 2003 where Ed, Brad from Alinghi where present, Dean & Grant from Team NZ, Yves from LV & Bruno.

First there was a question from someone that Bruno asked to Brad about his fellow countrymen in front of him or something to which Brad put on a stunned 'who me?' look on his face much to the laughter of the many gathered. He also commented that they obviously did not sail very well in the rain, once again the man was full of jokes.

Ed did his part to explain the situation, they just sailed bad and Emirates Team NZ sailed well, simple as that.

Grant had a smart comment to pass by which he could not resist, by saying 'It was a hard job trying to make (NZL) 84 sail slower', not that that impressed Brad very much. I dont think I saw them shake hands either.

Dean make a cool remark relating to if he had an advantage on home waters, how back in the late 70's, early 80's he watched Brad sail off North Head in regattas, as a compliment but Brad jokingly said 'oh thanks' or something like that, sort of rubbing it in but you could see it was total respect between Brad & Dean and long after the press conferance had finished, they were on stage, just themselves having a chat.

A question directed at Burno but answered by Yves regarding if this event was coming back next year, which got a applause by all the crowd, was one that I was waiting to hear, since Bruno said at the prizegiving 'We will be back!'.

The answer as a short one...'not sure' would sum it up. It all depended on the current Americas Cup court case and what the outcome of that was, so Im afraid for all of us wanting this back next year, we will just have to wait. I do think it will be back again, but I just do not know when.

Near the end, Bruno presented Greek Challenge with an award for 'Best Up & Coming' or something like that, which they accepted and said their thanks to all and most of all, they respected all their fellow competitors, for me speaks volumes.

At the end, Bruno got all the skippers on stage for a last photo, before anouncing...'Thats it' and with that, the official part of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series 2009 was over.

All the players in the Americas Cup could be seen. Coutts, Butterworth, Barker, Dalton, Baird were all hanging around chatting with friends and fans alike.

I wandered up outside Team New Zealands base where Rob Waddell was on his phone talking away, Mandy & Dean Barker were with their kids watching the boats get lifted out, the whole atmosphere was chilled out.

The Skycity Pacific bar was packed but still room to get a drink, which I passed up, quite dumb if your by yourself is it not?

What a fantastic afternoon/evening, my only regret? Not bringing my 1995 Team New Zealand jacket to pose in photos with all the team members, plus not bringing anyone to take my photo!

This event has blown me away. With all the races, some great, some not so. Some awesome new teams, Team ORIGIN, Greek Challenge, and the newly restructured China Team coming through and making their presence known has just been amazing.

The mind games from Alinghi did not help them and I think have backfired on them. Alot of kiwis got sucked into their trap doubting our home side but it shows if you have faith and determination like Team New Zealand had today, anything is possible, even overthrowing the current Americas Cup holders Alinghi in the so called 'faster boat'.

This event has bought the sailors back, working, sailing but most importantly,minus the crew of Alinghi, having FUN, bringing people back to a time in the history of sailing & regattas where sure, it was about winning, but it was also about enjoying yourself too, not playing stupid games with other teams minds and all that, just a chilled friendly regatta and what better place to stage it that Auckland, the City of Sails. Im proud of what my city has done, what my Team has done, what we as Kiwi's have done, not only for this event, but for sailing. As Bruno pointed out with Alinghi on stage 'Oh there must be a kiwi on this team'.

This was a tricky tight rope for Emirates Team New Zealand to walk on in this regatta. They were still trying to restore public faith in the sport, after the failed defence in 2003, we all thought we were gone, had beens, sell outs. 2007 and the 32nd Americas Cup bought out fans back, the public interest up after we won the Louis Vuitton Cup to go to the Americas Cup match against Alinghi, only to loose out slightly, but given that we did not bring home the cup with the fact all the AC races were on at 2AM in the middle of Winter in NZ, the public were not too enthralled to support the team to bring the cup home.

What this event has done has proved to EVERYONE in NZ that we CAN win, We HAVE won and we WILL win again, this event has proven that & has re-engaged the public of New Zealand back into sailing and supporting Team New Zealand.

As Bruno said, The Americas Cup WILL come home to Auckland, and come home it will.

On Monday 16th of February, Emirates Team New Zealands TP52 boat will be launched and I will once again be there to capture the moment. The build has been undertaken by Cookson Boats, builders of the 2003 & 2006 Team NZ AC yachts and has been launched for sea trials ready for the Med Circuit come this season given the success of Emirates Team New Zealand crew on various TP52 yachts in the last seasons regatta.

This now gives even more power to Emirates Team New Zealand to be the ULTIMATE yachting team ever in the history of the sport, but to get that status, we have to bring the cup back home.

My thanks goes to everyone who has been reading this blog, whether that be one of you or none, I have enjoyed covering this regatta, from the moment I heard about it in August 2008, to the final day today, I knew it was going to be something special.

For this day will forever remain in my memory as one of the best days since our AC Defence in 2000.

Haere Ra, Farewell & Thank You

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final Day 1

Alinghi bt Emirates Team New Zealand

Both teams met for the first time since July 2007 when they last raced in the final race of the 32nd Americas Cup where Alinghi managed to retain the cup by 1 second.

A controlling start by the kiwis was thrown away as Dean Barker misjudged his time on distance to the start line allowing Alinghi to pass between him & the committee boat giving them the power of the right.

Alinghi gained at every stage of the race in high wind conditions as the running backstay alarms were getting a work out. At one stage Emirates Team New Zealand's Gennaker halyard gave way almost causing a potential disaster but the grinders got their work out and hauled it back in.

Alinghi managed to put a convincing win over the home team but only because the start was lost.

Race 2 was meant to be underway this afternoon but was called off due to high winds on the Waitemata.

The series has been cut down from a best of 7 to best of 5 races to be able to finish in time for tomorrow's pre planned dead line.

Challenger Finals

Alinghi bt BMW Oracle Racing 2-0

Alinghi will face Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final best of 5 races on Friday & Saturday

Challenger Sail Off Day 2

Challenger Sail Off Day 2 - Wednesday 11th February 2009

Quarter Final 01:

Team ORIGIN bt Damiani Italia Challenge

Damiani Italia Challenge advance to Semi Final against Winner of Quarter Final 02

Quarter Final 02:

BMW Oracle Racing bt Luna Rossa

BMW Oracle Racing advance to Semi Final against Damiani Italia Challenge

Semi Final:

BMW Oracle Racing bt Damiani Italia Challenge

Challenger Final Race 1:

Alinghi bt BMW Oracle Racing

What an amazing days races today. The big guns were out to show their stuff  in these do or die matches today, the loosers are out and placed so these are the matches that matter!

Damiani Italia Challenge beat Team ORIGIN with a great sail today, perfectly manouvered and well sailed.

BMW Oracle Racing & Luna Rossa's match was the race of the day with both teams getting a penalty at the top mark, but then on the run, BMW Oracle Racing incurred a penalty that they took with them for the rest of the race, keeping all spectators on edge on when it was to be done. With excellent crew work on BMW Oracle Racing, they kept and held, even extended their lead on the beat & last run downwind to the finish, engaging in a gybing duel with Damiani Italia Challenge, well covered by Russell Coutts of course.

Right on the finish line, Russell Coutts & BMW Oracle Racing crew, completed one of the most amazing penalty finish line finishes ever, moving the boat around post the finish line, bringing her around and slightly up on speed and back over the line with only seconds to spare to clinch the race of the day and a spot against Damiani Italia Challenge in the Semi Finals.

In the Semi Final, BMW Oracle Racing held out for the right side of the course in the pre start, waiting and pouncing when the chance came to them. They won the start and the right hand side, with the shift rolling in they pulled away and lead for the race.

BMW Oracle Racing will now face Alinghi in the best of 5 Challenger Final, to decide who will take on Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final to be held on the 13th & 14th of February 2009 on the mighty Waitemata.

Challenger Final Race 1 got underway today, with a 1 second win to Alinghi after the bias for the finish was changed mid coming down the last run, and with that Alinghi came over the line 1 second ahead of BMW Oracle Racing. Talk about tinny.

Race 2 & 3, and 4 if neccessary are tomorrow. 

Challenger Sail Off

Race Summary - Tuesday 10th February - Challenger Sail Off

Sail Off Race A:

Team Origin bt K-Challenge

Sail Off Race B:

Luna Rossa bt China Team

Upcoming Races:

Quarter Final 01:

Team ORIGIN vs Damiani Italia Challenge

Quarter Final 02:

Luna Rossa vs BMW Oracle Racing

Semi Final

Winner of Quarter Final 01 vs Winner of Quarter Final 02

Challenger Final - Thursday 12th February

Alinghi vs Winner of Semi Final

Day 5 - Round Robin 2

Todays Races:

Alinghi bt Luna Rossa

Damiani Italia Challenge bt Team ORIGIN

BMW Oracle Racing bt Emirates Team New Zealand

Greek Challenge bt Team Shosholoza (Sail off for 9th & 10th placings)

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series:

9th Place: Greek Challenge

10th Place: Team Shosholoza

Challenger Sail Off:

Seed 1 - Alinghi

Seed 2 - BMW Oracle Racing

Seed 3 - Damiani Italia Challenge

Seed 4 - Team ORIGIN

Seed 5 - Luna Rossa

Seed 6 - China Team

Seed 7 - K-Challenge

Sail Off RACE A:

K-Challenge vs Team Origin

Winner vs Damiani Italia Challange

Winner into Semi Final

Winner goes to Challenger Final

Winner goes to Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final against Emirates Team New Zealand

Sail off  RACE B:

Luna Rossa vs China Team

Winner vs BMW Oracle Racing

Winner into Semi Final

Winner goes to Challenger Final

Winner goes to Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final against Emirates Team New Zealand

Day 4 - Round Robin 2

Todays Races:

Damiani Italia Challenge bt Luna Rossa

Alinghi bt BMW Oracle Racing

Team ORIGIN bt Emirates Team New Zealand

What a great day in Auckland today. Weather wise, this has been the mintest day of summer, with not a cloud in the sky, high temperatures, Auckland & New Zealand has really turned on summer!

This mornings race was an easy win for Damiani Italia Challenge. 

Races 2&3 were delayed due to light winds, along with the first so we did have a little wait on our hands.

Alinghi are still not popular in the media this morning with Brad Butterworth calling Dean Barker a 'sook'. Pathetic behaviour. So I really was hoping that BMW Oracle Racing would thrash them good.

Russell had a hard job in the pre start, with both wanting the always favoured right. Alinghi won it and kept it the whole race throughout all their little tacking & luffing duels. BMW Oracle Racing made some light gains on the downwind runs throwing in gybes here and there but Alinghi had it.

The 3rd race of the day, old team mates from Team New Zealand, Dean & Ben, had a show down that kept everyone out on their boats and on North Head. A very tight race, lead very well by Team ORIGIN. I think they are a team that many will have to look out as they did a really good job of covering Team New Zealand today.

That sums up todays races, lets look at tomorrow.

Day 5 - Round Robin 2 

Luna Rossa vs Alinghi - Alinghi should have this but I hope Luna Rossa can cain them!

Team ORIGIN vs Damiani Italia Challenge - Origin should be fine.

BMW Oracle Racing vs Emirates Team New Zealand - This should be the classic & best race of the day, really looking forward to it. No animosity, just pure sailing fun & skill. Good stuff.

Weather wise in Auckland tomorrow we should be fine for breeze with a sub tropical low front moving in from the north bringing I should imagine plenty of wind, swell and rain (well not really rain but showers, yucky, sticky humid showers).

Last day of Round Robin 2, just the sail offs, quarter finals, semi finals, challenger finals and finals to go! Lots to look forward too this week!!! Make sure you ALL get down the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series village for a drink and a look around this week as it will be your last chance you will see these teams for a while I should imagine.

Now, tonight I am off to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Albert Park in Auckland. I have worked on this event several years ago and its fantastic, you should all go if you get the chance! Tonight is the last night, as it is held over the weekend with plenty of entertainment, things to see, smell, do, hear. Come along if you are not doing anything tonight!

More tomorrow as racing starts!

Day 3 - Round Robin 2

Todays Races:

BMW Oracle Racing bt Damiani Italia Challenge

Greek Challenge bt Team Shosholoza

Team ORIGIN bt Luna Rossa

China Team bt K-Challenge

Emirates Team New Zealand bt the should be ashamed 'The Swiss Team' or Alinghi

Shock, dissapoinment, anger, disbelief, amazement.

Those were all words that could be used to describe todays play of events today on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

But first, lets look at how the day played out. I went down to the viaduct early this morning but just missed the boats dock out, oh well.

Anyhow BMW Oracle Racing took a convincing win over Damiani Italia Challenge, no surprise there.

Greek Challenge had a good day, tackling Team Shosholoza but still it was not all smooth sailing.

The First 2 races were delayed until around 1 PM due to lack of wind, but it slowly built up.

Team ORIGIN were off to a good start against Luna Rossa, but then, like the next race, China Team vs K-Challenge, had to be forced to re-start due to lack of wind on the course and not making the top mark within the 20 minute requirement. Both races were re started and sailed again, mainly to how they were before. Team ORIGIN only just beat Luna Rossa, who did a great job all the way through of trying to get through them, on the other hand China Team did a fantastic job in rolling over K-Challenge, but both had their ups & dows with weird wind, weird current, and weird sailing by both. Still got alot to learn these teams, but still they are out here DOING IT which as you will see next, is invaluable.

Next up was the match of the day, a sight we had not seen, and had been anticipating since June 2007, since that last match of the Americas Cup where Alinghi, only just marginally came over the line by 1 second, retaining the Americas Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand vs Alinghi...I could not wait! And neither could the whole of the Waitemata Harbour spectators and commentators.

Then, the shock annoucement. Alinghi were refusing not to race. At first I thought, oh maybe they think its too late in the day or something but no. The reason was a point they think they can justify by saying it was too risky for them to sail with the potential of getting a point deducted against a team that had nothing to loose since we (ETNZ) were in the finals.

Now this shocked me, and pretty well the whole of NZ as well who were right into this.

Team New Zealand were out on the water anyway so they sailed the prestart and did their pre start manouveres to get their point but their anger was quite visable with Dean Barkers interview with Martin Tasker on New Zealand's biggest news show TV One News at 6PM.

Dean Barker was visably "pissed off" and "disgusted", sharing the feelings of not on Emirates Team New Zealand but the WHOLE community in New Zealand following this event.

I am personally disgusted with Alinghi's actions. I feel this is an insult to the event, to Auckland, New Zealand, Emirates Team New Zealand, Bruno Trouble, Louis Vuitton, and ALL who have tried to make this event the BEST EVER REGATTA to grace our perfect sailing shores. Alinghi have known about this stunt and have waited for the right time to utelise it, their act of sabotage on this event is purely pathetic, a childish act of self consumerism. Not only did they let the teams down, they let the country down, the fans on the water who had waited patiently in New Zealand for 2 years waiting for this showdown while Alinghi were being pricks in the courts with the Americas Cup, 2 years we had waited, anticipated this event, for them to shove it up us and say no.

The news of their stunt has shocked the wider sailing world, and this is comparable to the 1981 underarm bowl incident involving Australia & New Zealand. This is a cheap stunt, a trick like what the Australians pulled out back then, for Alinghi's own advantage, to shatter this event, which is such a success, more so that they could have ever dreamed.

All this on a day that Alinghi boss Enersto Berterelli stood in his old base in Auckland on his first day in the City Of Sails and cowered in the corner like a sheep for slaughter while his team did the most unsportsmanlike gesture of being complete fools.

And I end with the words that started this.

Shock, Dissapointment, Anger, Disbelief, Amazement.

This sums up Day 3, Round Robin 2 of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

Day 2 - Round Robin 2

The Races:

Alinghi bt Damiani Italia Challenge

K-Challenge bt Team Shosholoza

BMW Oracle Racing  vs Team ORIGIN (Protest Hearing Friday 6th Feb)

China Team bt Greek Challenge

Emirates Team New Zealand bt Luna Rossa

Excitement on the Waitemata today as many dramas were on hand. Alinghi beat Damiani Italia Challenge quite convincingly, won the start and held on for race.

K-Challenge did a good job over Team Shosholoza who I think incured a penalty?

BMW Oracle Racing & Team ORIGIN took the spotlight today with their thrilling match, or lack of it, when Team ORIGIN, approaching the bottom mark gate looked to have trouble with their genoa track in the head foil but took down their Gennaker anyhow which screwed them as their head foil onboard one of the Team NZ boats seemed to break thanks to them it seems so they had to withdraw, allowing BMW Oracle Racing to complete the course and their penalty turn which they got in the pre start from some 'hard contact' so we are told...seems like everyone is using these ETNZ boats for a bit of bumping etc.

UPDATE: There will be a protest heard tonight NZ time (Friday 6th Feb) RE the hard contact & DNF's on Origins part etc. Should be interesting.

China Team did a great job over Greek Challenge who were all over the place, did they even enter the start box correctly? Weird, anyhow China came up on the Greeks scoring not one penalty, but 2 on them, great job, well done but a poorly sailed race by the Greeks. They have alot to learn but atleast they are here giving it a great go.

And lastly Emirates Team New Zealand took on Luna Rossa with a point to prove and they did just that, winning and covering quite nicely, all is forgiven Deano, well for now!

Lets see what we have tomorrow.

Day 3 - Round Robin 2

Damiani Italia Challenge vs BMW Oracle Racing - should be easy for Russell on this one

Greek Challenge vs Team Shosholoza - could be interesting but I think Shosholoza by all accounts should have this one

Luna Rossa vs Team ORIGIN - Ainslie should be able to stich this one up, well I hope so if they dont break or run into anything again

China Team vs K-Challenge - Chinas on a roll, lets hope it rolls over the French, somehow I think K-Challenge might pull this one, China might be sitting on a high after winning back to back races so they might let their guard down but who knows, we will see.

Emirates Team New Zealand vs Alinghi - No doubt the race of the day. Pefect, right at the end when we have a decent breeze going. This is the first time the teams have met since 2007, Both skippers will be out to prove something to everyone. This is the showstealer for tomorrow...

Back again with pictures and updates tomorrow evening.

UPDATE ON BMW ORACLE RACING vs TEAM ORIGIN RACE:

BMW Oracle Racing has been docked 1 point, brnging their Round Robin 2 total to 1. Team ORIGIN have been docked half a point (.5) for their part in the hard contact collision in Team New Zealand boats.

The head foil again was the problem on the Team New Zealand boats for Team ORIGIN but it seems it might have been at their own hand and not a boat fault but that is still to be confirmed.

Day 1 - Round Robin 2

The Races:

Alinghi bt Team ORIGIN

K-Challenge bt Greek Challenge

Damiani Italia Challenge bt Emirates Team New Zealand

China Team bt Team Shosholoza

BMW Oracle Racing bt Luna Rossa

Tomorrows races:

Day 2 - Round Robin 2

Alinghi vs Damiani Italia Challenge

Team Shosholoza vs K-Challenge

Team ORIGIN vs BMW Oracle Racing

Greek Challenge vs China Team

Emirates Team New Zealand vs Luna Rossa

ETNZ Screwed the start against Damiani Italia Challenge, given them the controlling position, much like what happened with Alinghi a few days ago.

ETNZ attacked all the liked, but with the controlling position from the start, they never had a chance. Damiani skipper is quoted to have said he is quite please to have got one over their 'heroes' but not quite sure how it happened.

Dean Barker has said it has given them a wake up call, and so it should.

NZ Heralds TOP 10 Heroes of the Americas Cup 

1: Sir Peter Blake

2: Harold Vanderbilt

3: Russell Coutts

4: John Bertrand

5: Olin J. Stephens II

6: Dennis Connor

7: Brad Butterworth

8: Sir Thomas Lipton

9: Bruno Trouble

10: Ernesto Bertarelli

Day 5 - Round Robin 1

The Races:

Race1:

BMW Oracle Racing by Damiani Italia Challenge by 55s

Race2:

Team Shosholoza bt Alinghi by 3m39s

Race3

Emirates Team New Zealand bt K-Challenge by 1m38s

Race4

Team ORIGIN by Greek Challenge by 58s

Round Robin 1 Points Tally:

Pool A:

1st: Emirates Team New Zealand - 4

2nd: BMW Oracle Racing - 3

3rd: Damiani Italia Challenge - 2

4th: K-Challenge - 1

5th: China Team - 0

Pool B:

1st: Team ORIGIN - 4

2nd=: Alinghi, Luna Rossa - 2

3rd: Team Shosholoza - 1

4th: Greek Challenge

Round Robin 2 Gold/Silver Fleets:

Gold:

Emirates Team New Zealand (Pool A 1st)

BMW Oracle Racing (Pool A 2nd)

Damiani Italia Challenge (Pool A 3rd)

Team Origin (Pool B 1st)

Alinghi (Pool B 2nd)

Luna Rossa (Pool B 3rd)

Silver Fleet:

K-Challenge (Pool A 4th)

China Team (Pool A 5th)

Greek Challenge (Pool B 5th)

Team Shosholoza (Pool B 5th)

What a day of racing we had today, man some big upsets as well as some good classic racing on a perfect day in Auckland.

Weather wise, could not be better, light breeze, blue skys with lovely white puffy clouds, amazing!

Racing was on track all day, 1st race at 10AM with BMW Oracle Racing doing a good job over Damiani Italia Challenge. Won by 55s.

Race 2 was the biggest upset of the day. With a LONG proper dial up lasting 3 minutes Alinghi & Team Shosholoza bore away to start their race which everyone thought was done and dusted before it began but no, how wrong we were. Alinghi made mistakes in the prestart, late to the line with Team Shosholoza powering away. Alinghi never regained and trailed the South Africans around everymark, eventually to finish 3m49s behind, well over 1KM!!!!

Well done Team Shosholoza, but the hype on Sailing Anarchy is that was there a gear failure on the Team New Zealand boat Alinghi were sailing for them to be so far behind?

Surely they cannot be sandbagging? Speculation is rife but there has been no reports of gear breakage or any excuse loaded onto the gear at all from them, a good clean win, massive win from a greatly sailed race by Team Shosholoza.

Race 3 was a pretty close one on the first beat between Emirates Team New Zealand and K-Challenge, but the excellent crew work of Team New Zealand put away K-Challenge which Team New Zealand won with a 1m38s lead.

Team Origin also put away Greek Challenge although the Greeks tried hard, good on em, show it to the brits as much as you can guys!

Now this is round robin 1 complete today. 

Pool A is easy, we have a easy 1st -5th. Pool B is harder, we have a 2nd tie between 3 teams, so im not sure what happens there.

Anyhow, there is a lay day tomorrow, be sure to catch as much as you can on YouTube or the TVNZ Highlights in NZ tonight at 11PM ish or the podcasts or online.

I will be back again on Thursday (or before when I hear the final Gold/Silver fleet line up) and keep you up to date with info as it comes to hand as well as daily race highlights in the evenings.

Lovely evening here in Auckland, make the most if it guys...I am!

Ciao

Day 4 - Round Robin 1

The Races:

Race1:

Emirates Team New Zealand bt China Team 

Race2:

Luna Rossa bt Greek Challenge

Race3:

BMW Oracle Racing bt K-Challenge

Race4:

Team ORIGIN bt Team Shosholoza

Race5:

Luna Rossa bt Team Shosholoza

Today started out weird in Auckland today. We had too much wind the day before, today, a server lack of it, or when there was wind, there was a lack of set direction in order to set a proper race axis which would be fair to both teams. Racing was scheduled for 11AM but come 12, there was still only 3knts of breeze, quite a rare sort of event but oh well, the boys on the bsport boat had fun as a Team Shosholoza member caught a snapper, so they made up the Official Louis Vuitton Snapper Competition, by where if you were out on the water waiting for racing & fishing, catch a snapper, txt the size to the number, then come see the boys at the press conferance when proof of your catch of the day, the biggest wins a bottle of moet, courtesy of Bruno Trouble, how choice!

Anyhow, racing got under way at 2:45PM with the first race, ETZN vs China Team, China getting into trouble before the start, going over early, just like Alinghi did yesterday but with no tide interaction, purely misplacement, and therefore ETNZ steamed away easily, race won.

10 or so minutes after Race1 started on the black course, right up near the old Americas Cup regatta area near Whangaparoa, Race2 started, as they were pushing to get the normal 4 done today, let alone the carry over one from yesterday which was postponed due to high winds!

Anyhow, we got all the races done, not too much action today but come next week, expect crowds and sparks to fly.

Went down for the press conferance tonight but it was canned as it was just too late once they had all got in and they all probably just wanted to go back to the hotel, there was no one at the Viaduct Village anyhow, pretty dull but oh well, you get that.

Tomorrows races, not that exciting but its the last day of Round Robin 1, so far only Emirates Team NZ remain unbeaten.

Race1:

Damiani Italia Challenge vs BMW Oracle Racing - Russell should have this one

Race2:

Alinghi vs Team Shosholoza - Brad & co should have this one too

Race3:

K-Challenge vs Emirates Team New Zealand - We should have this one also

Race4:

Team ORIGIN vs Greek Challenge - Im pulling for the greeks, I like them, their spirit and their campaign, they are not doing too badly in this regatta, all considering they have hardly sailed in boats like these before, I hope they give a good old shove up the Brittish, as someone always should.

More tomorrow as it happens on Sailing Anarchy Forums 'Official Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Thread' or look back here tomorrow night for the round up of the last race of the Round Robin 1, Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.