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.