Red Bull Youth America's Cup - Day 2
by Red Bull Sailing Newsroom 3 Sep 2013 08:37 BST
1-4 September 2013
Battle on the Bay: New Zealand and USA tied for overall lead
The eyes of the sailing world were on the future stars on Monday, as the NZL Sailing Team and American Youth Sailing Force came away tied for the overall lead at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. This 10-team, 8-country fleet race is delivering the tightest and most competitive racing seen on San Francisco Bay this summer at the halfway point of the regatta. In fact, four different countries have taken a first place flag in the four fleet races so far – USA, New Zealand, Portugal and Sweden.
The top seven teams are separated by just 3 points with four races remaining over the next two days, with double points on the line in the final race.
"We're surprised to be in the lead, but happy to be there and looking forward to getting back out tomorrow," said NZL skipper Peter Burling, a silver medalist in the 49er class at the 2012 Olympics. "We didn't have a great start to the day but got an alright finish on the board in the second race to bring us back into it. I think it'll come down to the last day anyway, so we're trying to build as a group and looking forward to each day as it comes."
"The racing's really tight, so it's not too surprising that the standings are as close as they are," said American Youth Sailing Force skipper Mike Menninger, a three-time collegiate All-American from St. Mary's College of Maryland. "I think we're sailing well, but we're not too worried about the standings with two days to go. We have to treat each day separately."
The ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team from Portugal won the day's first race, Race 3 of the series. Helmsman Bernardo Freitas nailed the start, to the leeward of the pack, and the crew led at all six mark roundings enroute to a 28-second victory over Team Tilt from Switzerland.
"Today we pushed a little harder on the start. That was our bad point yesterday," said skipper and wing trimmer Antonio Mello. "The start was really good, we got to the reach mark first and then we tried to make the race as simple as possible. The fleet is very competitive."
Race 4 might have been the closest of the series. The Swedish Youth Challenge, Team Tilt, NZL Sailing Team and Emirates Team New Zealand battled it out at the top of the fleet, with the Swedes and Swiss trading the lead at least four times. The Swedes led around the last windward mark and held on for a 5-second victory over the Swiss, who brought back memories of that country's sailing prowess at the 2007 America's Cup finals.
Chris Draper, the skipper of America's Cup Challenger Luna Rossa, was on-hand to watch these 10 one-design AC45 catamarans race each other on the same bay that will host the 34th America's Cup Finals.
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup will again take center stage on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 11am PT/2 pm ET, with more than 70 territories around the world broadcasting live coverage and replays.
Provisional Standings after Day 2: (four races)
1. NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ (NZL) 2-4-7-3 – 28 points
2. American Youth Sailing Force (USA) 1-7-3-5 – 28 points
3. Team TILT (SUI) 8-5-2-2 – 27 points
4. Swedish Youth Challenge (SWE) 6-2-9-1 – 26 points
5. Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL) 7-1-4-6 – 26 points
6. ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team (POR) 3-6-1-8 – 26 points
7. Next World Energy (FRA) 4-3-8-4 – 25 points
8. All In Racing (GER) 5-8-5-9 – 17 points
9. Objective Australia (AUS) RDG-10-6-10 – 9.3 points
10. USA45 Racing (USA) 9-9-10-7 – 9 points
NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ now share the lead at RBYAC (from Jodie Bakewell-White, Yahcting New Zealand)
The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ remain at the top of the leader board after another gripping day of close encounter racing at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup on now in San Francisco.
On 28 points they share the top spot with the Michael Menninger led American Youth Force Sailing Team. Behind them teams placed back as far as 7th in the standings are just three points off the leaders.
New Zealand's FMJ Racing has a share of 4th place on 26 points after placing 4th and 6th in today's races. With no one team dominating over the first half of the four day regatta it remains extremely tight for the remaining two days.
The NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ, sponsored by Rodd & Gunn, didn't open the day according to the text book stalling on the start line in the first race. Crew member Guy Endean explains;
"It was tough today, the first race didn't start that well, but it was just a matter of sticking in there really and try to pull back the places we could get. We worked hard for it, so it was just good to finish with a few boats behind us."
Recording a 7th and earning four points for that first race, the NZL Sailing Team with ETNZ came away in race two with a much better start and went on to place 3rd worth eight points.
Endean talks about what he feels the team did well today; "The second race was good, a few things went our way and a couple didn't but it was pretty good. There were a few, let's call them freestyle manoeuvres, where they're not entirely planned but just fell into shape with a bit of pressure. There were a couple of situations where it all came together nicely."
The four day regatta is now at the midway point with two days and four races left on the schedule.
"We've just to get out there fresh again and do our thing really," says Endean. "Everything seems to be going well as far as the crew mechanics, there may be a couple of small things to iron out but apart from that it's just a matter of getting out there fresh again and getting a good start and getting amongst it."
The Force—Tied For First* (from American Youth Sailing Force)
After two days of racing in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup the American Youth Sailing Force showed they have the skill and coolness under fire needed to win this regatta. Facing an aggressive fleet of international youth sailors, a strong showing in day-two pushed The Force into a tie for first place with New Zealand's Full Metal Jacket team.
Race one opened up with a scripted start when The Force aimed at the committee boat end of the starting line and crossed right at the gun with good speed and a clear lane to sail in. At the first mark they rounded in first and never looked back. "It was really great to get a win in the first race. It felt really great for our team and an excellent start to the regatta," according to skipper, Michael Menninger. "I think it's going to be an important confidence builder for us in the coming days."
Race three proved that a strong start coupled with consistent maneuvers is the key to placing well in these hard fought races. The Force took third place in that race and worked back from a significant deficit in race four to place fifth. Menninger relates, " We are really happy with our boat speed and the way we are sailing around the racecourse right now. So, we continue to have fun and sail hard."
Overall, The Force has earned 28 points and has made it clear that you don't need to win every race to win this regatta.
Racing continues Sept. 3 and 4 with two races each day. There's plenty of racing to come. All of the international teams competing in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup Championship know consistency and placing near the top of the fleet will be enough.
* Due to redress, New Zealand is two points ahead.
Team Tilt back in the race in San Francisco with two seconds (from Team Tilt)
After a tricky first day on Sunday, the young Swiss sailors onboard Team Tilt bounced back today to post two well-fought second places on day two of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in San Francisco.
Two second places today puts Team Tilt in third place overall at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The pack is reshuffled with just three points between first and seventh place in the ranking.
"We will be more aggressive and will work harder on our starts," announced skipper Lucien Cujean before racing on Monday. He kept his word and the team managed to put itself in a good position off the start line and defend it until the finish.
"We changed our start procedure to concentrate more on timing in general and time to the line in particular," explained crewmember Lionel Vaucher. "Everything is easier when you get a good start, motivation increases and you pass more boats!"
The team raced at the top of the fleet throughout the day in lighter 12-knot conditions, even leading for a moment during the final race before the Swedish team passed them to finish 5 seconds ahead.
The young Swiss sailors have had an excellent day, but are taking nothing for granted and are fully focussed going into day three of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. "We can't celebrate just yet, but must remain focussed on tomorrow's round of competition," said coach Laurent Voiron. "The guys are very motivated. They need to take what they did well today into tomorrow's competition and continue to race their own race. Continuity will pay off."
Just one point off the top slot currently held by the NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand and American Youth Sailing Force, Team Tilt is back in the game. "There is still a long way to go, we are only on day two," said Lucien Cujean. "But we are aiming for a podium place now more than ever and cannot afford any errors."
Next World Energy just three points from the leaders (from Energy Team)
Next World Energy is still well up there at the end of the second day of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, the America's Cup for the under 25s. The French youngsters finished eighth and fourth in the day's two fleet races on Monday in San Francisco Bay. With half of the races behind them now, they are in 7th place in the overall rankings, which remain extremely close with just three points separating the first seven teams. Here are the summaries of race 3 and 4 from Monday 2nd September.
Fleet Race 3: A penalty, which was to cost them dear...
The conditions were really pleasant for the third race in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup: sunshine and a twelve-knot WSW'ly wind. After rather disappointing starts in the first two races on Sunday, the young French sailors on Next World Energy skippered by Arthur Ponroy with Antoine Lauriot-Prévost at the helm, were determined to do better today. Well placed in the middle of the line, they almost pulled it off. Unfortunately, they were given a penalty for being over the line too soon. They therefore had to slow down and lost some precious time. Three other crews found themselves in the same situation: Full Metal Jacket Racing (NZL), American Youth Sailing Force (USA) and Team Tilt (SUI). At the rear of the fleet at the first mark, the French AC45 was in a rather tricky position as they tackled the first downwind leg. But it is not over until it's over in these races, where the positions keep changing, and it is quite possible to claw your way back ! up through the fleet. For the French, it was a matter of never giving up. But Next World Energy simply could not move up through the fleet this time. After 25 minutes of a race they had dominated from start to finish, the Portuguese crossed the line first. They were the third winners in three races. The penalty at the start of the race was very costly for the French and they ended up in eighth place.
Fleet Race 4: Next World Energy responds well
The second race of the day took place in more or less the same wind conditions. The ten AC45s got off to a good start building up speed as they headed for the first mark. Rather left behind, the Next World Energy was back in eighth place after the first reaching leg with the Australians, Swedes and Swiss out in front. The positions would not change by the end of the first upwind leg. However, the second downwind leg saw a huge change in the situation. Suffering from a major problem with their Code 0, the Australians dropped right back in the rankings, while the French moved up two spots to be in fifth place at mark 4. And that in spite of a close call with the New Zealand Full Metal Jacket Racing crew, who almost collided with them. Next World Energy called for a penalty and were judged to be right. After a good upwind leg, with the AC45 skippered by Arthur Ponroy battling it out with the Portuguese for fourth place, the French grabbed the advantage at the fifth mark. In spi! te of coming under pressure from the Americans, the young French crew held on and just managed to stay in fourth place at the finish. Well played!
Quotes:
Antoine Mermod, team manager for Next World Energy: "The races are still just as exciting and closely fought. As on the first day, our starts weren't that good today – that's obviously something we need to work on. But we're satisfied with everything else. The crew once again proved its ability to get out of tricky situations in today's second race. In the first, there were no openings allowing us to get back up there. But it's no big deal, as all the crews are experiencing some tricky races. The competition continues and everything is still to play for: it will all be decided in the final gybe in the eighth and final race!"
Arthur Ponroy, skipper of the Next World Energy AC45: "All of the crewmen are on a war footing and we're ready for action. It's just a pity that we haven't managed to get off to a better start in the races... We really need to improve on this aspect. If we got off to a good start, there's no reason why we shouldn't come up with some very good results. The second race of the day was promising: any race where you finish in the top five is a good race. The overall rankings remain close and the rest of the event looks like being a closely fought contest, particularly the last race, which counts double. But first of all we need to concentrate on tomorrow's races."
Equipment failures continue to halt progress (from Objective Australia)
Overnight the international jury awarded Objective Australia redress for Race 1 yesterday, agreeing that supplied equipment had failed. That redress will be the average points of races 2-6. However, the jury did not award redress for Race 2.
In Race 4 today, disaster struck again with the same gear failure causing the Code Zero to unexpectedly drop on the Objective Australia AC45.
Objective Australia and the America's Cup Race Management team have again taken the boat out of the water to try to resolve the repeated failure of the Code Zero halyards.
The team has lodged a protest for Race 4 and has requested a reassessment of the redress decision on Race 2. Due to the workload of the international protest committee, this cannot be heard today and will instead be heard after racing concludes tomorrow.
San Francisco put on a much better show for the second day of racing in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The sun was out and the breeze was a summery 12 knots from the WSW.
The Australian's came to the start line with plenty of enthusiasm and determination.
So too did a number of the other teams and the enthusiasm got the better of the fleet with On Course Side (OCS) penalties going to the Australians, among a number of other teams who broke the crowded start before the starter's gun.
Objective Australia climbed back to a solid fourth by the bottom mark. Unfortunately they took a chance on the right hand mark and were alone on that side of the course with the Swiss. The left hand side had wind and tide conditions and the Australians struggled to get back to the pack.
At the end of the second run, they had clawed back distance and steadily gained up the last beat to get close enough to capitalise on some of the other team's boat handling issues to claim sixth at the finish.
It was the second race of the day where today's drama unfolded.
After dominating the start, Objective Australia tucked around the first mark just ahead of NZL2, forcing the kiwis to gybe away and leaving Objective Australia forging a comfortable lead. By the second mark that lead had extended and the Australians went to the favoured left side with a safe margin.
It was close racing with many tacks along the shore, but in the end the solid tactics of Laser class world number one, Tom Burton, kept the Australian team in front of the Swedes as they rounded the left hand mark. Halfway down the run disaster struck when the casing around the new Code Zero halyard gave way, the Code Zero dropping onto the deck of the AC45.
This was the same equipment failure that occurred during Race 1 yesterday.
There was an immediate outpouring over social media with fans response to seeing the Australians blighted with such unbelievable misfortune.
The Objective Australia team remains extremely determined and knows that if they can record a couple of excellent results tomorrow then, with a successful request for redress, they may be still in the regatta on the final day.