Emirates Team New Zealand a repris lundi la tête du classement de la finale de la Louis Vuitton Cup face à Luna Rossa Challenge. Les Italiens ont été stoppés net sur le troisième bord du parcours en raison d’un blocage au niveau du bras de contrôle de leur aile rigide haute de 131 pieds (40 m).
Cet incident est intervenu alors que la compétition était plus intense que jamais entre les deux challengers, bien décidés à prendre l’avantage dès le pré-départ de l’unique manche du jour. Le second duel a été reporté à mercredi pour cause de vents trop forts dépassant la limite maximale fixée à 19.4 nœuds par la Direction de course.
Le barreur de Luna Rossa, Chris Draper (GBR), a signé l’un de ses plus beaux départs en franchissant la ligne de départ en tête avec une seconde d’avance et au vent d’Emirates Team New Zealand barré par Dean Barker.
Mais alors que Luna Rossa faisait route au portant à moins d’une longueur d’Aotearoa, tous deux lancés à 34-38 nœuds de vitesse, vers la première marque, l’AC72 italien est subitement redescendu de ses foils juste avant d’enrouler la première bouée. Ce regrettable ralentissement a permis à Emirates Team New Zealand de se frayer un chemin et de prendre la tête au passage de la troisième marque.
Bien que les vitesses étaient similaires sur le bord de portant, Emirates Team New Zealand était plus rapide avec 35 nœuds comparé à Luna Rossa qui affichait seulement 33.83 nœuds. Cette meilleure performance a permis aux Kiwis de disposer de 20 secondes d’avance en arrivant à la porte sous le vent.
Les deux équipes ont ensuite choisi d’enrouler la porte du côté bâbord (gauche). Après ce passage, Luna Rossa a viré sur tribord puis quelques équipiers sont allés inspecter le bras de contrôle de l’aile visiblement bloqué tandis que les Néo-Zélandais se sont dirigés tout droit seuls vers l’arrivée, sous les yeux des nombreux spectateurs de l’America’s Cup Park.
Demain mardi c’est jour ‘off’ pour les équipes qui consacreront probablement cette journée à effectuer de la maintenance. Comme le Président du comité de course, John Craig (CAN), l’a expliqué lundi matin lors du point presse, le calendrier des courses est désormais décalé.
« Je pense que prévoir deux courses par jour sollicite plus les équipages que les bateaux » explique John Craig, originaire de la Baie de San Francisco. « Je pense qu’avec des courants plus favorables et des vents plus faibles en septembre, les équipes auront mis au point leurs AC72 ».
Résultat provisoire de la Finale de la Louis Vuitton Cup (7 points sont requis pour remporter l’épreuve) :
Emirates Team New Zealand – 2
Luna Rossa Challenge – 1
Calendrier de la finale de la Louis Vuitton Cup (Maximum en 13 manches, horaires en heure locale) :
Mercredi 21 août : Finale Course 4 (13h10), Finale Course 5 (14h10)
Vendredi 23 août : Finale Course 6 (Horaire à confirmer)
Samedi 24 août : Finale Course 7 (13h10), Finale Course 8 (14h10)
Course 3 en chiffres
Emirates Team New Zealand
Luna Rossa Challenge
Parcours Type/Distance
5 bords, 10.07 milles nautiques
Temps de course
23 minutes et 18 secondes
Delta
DNF
Vitesse maximale 42.34 noeuds
Vitesse moyenne 29.73 nœuds
Distance totale parcourue 11.5 milles nautiques
Vitesse du vent moyenne/max 17.2 noeuds /19.3 noeuds
Emirates Team New Zealand regained the lead in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final today when Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge had to pull up at the beginning of Leg 3 with damage sustained to a sheave on the control arm of the 131-foot tall wing sail.
Emirates Team New Zealand finished the racecourse unopposed and leads the series 2-1. The first to score 7 points earns the right to challenge ORACLE TEAM USA next month for the 34th America’s Cup.
The third breakdown among the two challengers in as many days came with disappointment because Race 3 began with great competition. Luna Rossa helmsman Chris Draper put forth a strong effort in the pre-start, keeping clear of Emirates Team New Zealand’s Dean Barker. Draper crossed onto the racecourse 1 second earlier and to windward of Barker.
“We discussed that leading back (to the start line) would be strong with the tight reach. We executed our plan,” said Draper.
“It felt like we had an opportunity to hook Luna Rossa and just didn’t quite pull it off,” said Barker. “That put us in a tough spot. I could’ve done a better job in the final 20 to 30 seconds.”
Luna Rossa was the equal of Aotearoa on a spectacular first reach, which saw the two AC72s hydrofoiling side-by-side at 34 to 38 knots and separated by less than one length. But the Italian yacht briefly came off its hydrofoils just before the first turning mark and that allowed Emirates Team New Zealand to sneak through to leeward and lead by 3 seconds at the rounding.
“I thought we were going to roll over them on that reach, but we had one little crash after the start,” said Draper. “If you get hit by a lull at the same time the rake (of the daggerboards) is slightly wrong, it can stop the boat quite suddenly.”
“It was a good start today, those guys are not novices,” said Barker. “They do just fine in the AC45s so they know what they want to do. Up to now their boathandling may have been an issue, but they’re getting more confident in the boat and they’re not afraid to stick it in there, which is great.”
Although the speeds were even on the reach, Emirates Team New Zealand was quicker on the ensuing run. The Kiwis averaged 35 knots compared to the Italians 33.83 knots, and that allowed Emirates Team New Zealand to lead by 20 seconds at the leeward gate.
Both crews rounded the gate to port (left) side of the yacht. After rounding, Luna Rossa tacked to starboard trying to get separation from the Kiwis, and moments later pulled up with crew members inspecting the control arm of the wing sail.
“Unfortunately, we had an issue with the line controlling the twist profile of the wing and couldn’t keep sailing,” said Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena. “The line comes down to the base of the wing and wraps around sheaves. The sheaves moved and caused the problem with the tension of the control line. Fortunately it’s a quick fix, but unfortunately it stopped us racing.”
“Our reaching speeds are better, we believe we can beat these guys around the racecourse, and that’s a heck of an improvement since the round robins,” said Draper.
With the wind blowing in excess of the 19.4-knot limit set for the day’s second race, Race 4 of the series, it was postponed until Wednesday. Sirena said that the control arm problem aboard Luna Rossa would’ve prevented them from racing.
Tomorrow is an off day for the two crews, who’ll no doubt spend the day carrying out maintenance to the yachts and their bodies. As Principal Race Officer John Craig noted this morning, the racing program is taking a toll.
“I think two races a day are pushing the sailors more than the boats,” said Craig, the longtime race officer based in San Francisco. “The physical nature of what the teams are going through; it’s a tough two races per day. I’m optimistic that with the better currents coming with the flood tide and moving into September, which is typically a lighter breeze month, we’ll see the teams work through these bugs that they’re encountering right now.”
Louis Vuitton Cup Final Standings (first to 7 points wins)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 2
Luna Rossa Challenge – 1
Upcoming Louis Vuitton Cup Final schedule (best-of-13 series)
Wednesday, Aug. 21: Final Race 4 (1:10 pm PT), Final Race 5 (2:10 pm PT)
Friday, Aug. 23: Final Race 6 (TBD)
Saturday, Aug. 24: Final Race 7 (1:10 pm PT), Final Race 8 (2:10 pm PT)
Race 3 Performance Data
Emirates Team New Zealand
Luna Rossa Challenge
Course Type/Distance
5 legs, 10.07 nautical miles
Elapsed Time
23:18.6
Delta
DNF
Top Speed 42.34 knots (49 mph) 40.66 knots (47 mph)
Average Speed 29.73 knots (34 mph)
Total Distance Sailed 11.5 nautical miles
Wind Speed Average/Peak 17.2 knots/19.3 knots