Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Gothenburg - Overall
by 35th America's Cup 30 Aug 2015 18:46 BST
28-30 August 2015
Emirates Team New Zealand put together a Super Sunday in Sweden, to vault to the top of the leaderboard and claim the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Gothenburg.
It was a difficult day on the tight race course, with light and shifty conditions.
But the Kiwis, led by skipper Glenn Ashby and prodigy helmsman Peter Burling showed no fear, posting a 2-1 scoreline in the two double-point races.
"It was a tricky afternoon, but our guys had a forecast for it being light like this for quite a few days, so we've been preparing for it since we arrived," Burling said.
"We're really happy to put together two solid races today and to perform under pressure in that last one is very satisfying."
Saturday's leader, ORACLE TEAM USA, came in to the day on the back of a perfect scoreline in the first two races.
But on Sunday it was a different story. Two fourth place finishes dropped the defending champion of the America's Cup to second place.
"We're disappointed," said skipper Jimmy Spithill. "We were having a very difficult time speed-wise and with our technique in the lighter winds. We felt good when the breeze was up and we were on the foils. So we have to get back to work."
Land Rover BAR won the first Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series on home waters in Portsmouth. Two second place finishes on Saturday had the team poised for another top finish. But a poor start in the last race put the team in third place for the Swedish stop.
"It's frustrating," admitted skipper Ben Ainslie. "But that's the nature of the sport. We're pleased to be on the podium. We got past Artemis Racing and nearly caught ORACLE TEAM USA at the end, so that was important.
"In these conditions you need to get a good start and we didn't do that. It's hard to work your way back after that. I thought the Kiwis sailed a brilliant second race and deserved to get the win."
SoftBank Team Japan was in fourth place, with a strong final race giving a boost to the team's confidence heading into the next event in Bermuda.
"The goal today was to get better starts and get around the first mark in good shape and we did that," said skipper Dean Barker. "It didn't translate into the results we wanted in the first race, but in the second race today, we nailed it.
"We also had a couple of good results in the practice races as well, so hopefully we carry that through to Bermuda."
Another team looking for positive signs was Groupama Team France, who raced without regular tactician Arnaud Psarofaghis, on a day that called for good tactics.
"It was good to finish third in the last race," said skipper Franck Cammas. "It's taken a long time to find a good mode for sailing downwind and that's held us back. Today was tactically tricky. Even if you start well, the game comes after the start. But we managed the tactics with Thierry Fouchier and myself and we had a bit more time to think because the wind was light."
The day started well for the hometown heroes on Artemis Racing, who have struggled to put together consistently good results.
That pattern would continue. An inspiring win in the first race was followed by a last place finish in the second.
"We got a ripper of a start in the first one and when you get ahead of the pack in these conditions it can roll into a massive lead," said skipper Nathan Outteridge.
"We've been working really hard as a team to fix our issues. Yesterday we sailed well but didn't get the results which was very discouraging, but I kept reminding the guys it will come, we're so close.
"So to put it all together in that first race was great for our fans, our team and for us on the boat as well.
"Of course it would have been nice to follow that up with another solid race, but I guess we'll have to do that in Bermuda."
The Race to Bermuda starts in earnest now, as the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series shifts to the home of the 2017 America's Cup from October 16-18.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Gothenburg Final Results:
1st Emirates Team NZ - 54pts
2nd ORACLE TEAM USA - 48pts
3rd Land Rover BAR - 46pts
4th SoftBank Team Japan - 43pts
5th Artemis Racing - 42pts
6th Groupama Team France 37pts
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Standings: (after the first two events)
1st Emirates Team New Zealand - 72pts
2nd Land Rover BAR - 65pts
3rd ORACLE TEAM USA - 64pts
4th SoftBank Team Japan - 56pts
5th Artemis Racing - 53pts
6th Groupama Team France - 50pts
acws-gothenburg.americascup.com
Emirates Team New Zealand Win ACWS Gothenburg (from Emirates Team New Zealand)
Emirates Team New Zealand was victorious in Gothenburg today at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series.
In conditions significantly lighter than the first day's racing, 5-7 knots in warm Swedish sunshine, the regatta was anyone's for the taking going into the two double points races.
In the first race of the day the local favourites Artemis Racing got off to a strong start and by the bottom mark had picked up a puff which eluded the fleet and were away to take a significant win to put them right back in the hunt for the overall win after an indifferent first day.
But it was the order of the following boats in race one which really set the foundation for a dramatic final race.
A pre start penalty, which, resulted in Emirates Team New Zealand being last off the start line they managed to graft their way back through the fleet to cross the finish line in 2nd, ahead of Land Rover BAR, Oracle Team USA.
The mathematical equation of this meant all three teams, Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR & Oracle Team USA were all tied on points, and Artemis Racing just two points adrift setting up what was effectively a winner takes all final race between the four teams.
Oracle Team USA had a strong start, and a good lead by the bottom mark 2. Ashby, Burling and friends rounded in 3rd place 100 metres behind the leaders.
The key to the race, and effectively winning the regatta came on leg 3, when Emirates Team New Zealand split from the leaders at the bottom gate.
"We planned that from a long way out, we had a long chat amongst the guys and took the right hand gate even though it looked pretty bad for a long time, but we knew we were going to have a couple less tacks and have better pressure for that whole upwind but also get that right hand side at the top." said helmsman Peter Burling
Converging at the top mark, Emirates Team New Zealand rolled the American's to round the top mark in front closely in front of Softbank Team Japan.
From this point on Glenn Ashby and crew extended their lead, never comfortable, but in control.
"Ray and Pete managed to get the boat around the track really nicely as did Blair and Guy, so we are starting to gel really nicely." Said skipper Glenn Ashby.
"There were plenty of snakes and ladders out there, plenty of opportunity and also room for going backwards quickly as well. But we were really happy with the way we sailed but a fantastic result for us."
Helmsman Peter Burling continued, "We were really proud being able to perform under pressure in that last race. It is precisely what we set out to do, so all in all we are really elated with today and with the regatta as a whole"
Emirates Team New Zealand are the only team to have been in the top three in every race of the 2015 World Series this year, and as a result have a seven point lead overall in the series, ahead of Land Rover BAR & Oracle Team USA.
Solid second in Sweden (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
After two wins from two starts on Saturday, ORACLE TEAM USA was poised for a winning result at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Gothenburg, Sweden.
But in light, shifty wind conditions on Sunday, it quickly became apparent it would be a much trickier afternoon on the race course.
The first race of the day showed just how topsy-turvy it could be when the hometown Artemis Racing, entering the day in last place, ran away for an easy race win.
ORACLE TEAM USA had a hard-fought fourth place finish behind both Team New Zealand and Ben Ainslie in the day's opener.
"We were really scrambling," said skipper Jimmy Spithill. "We had a penalty off the starting line. And from then on it was a battle. We could never climb back through."
The results in that first contest saw a tie at the top between ORACLE TEAM USA, the Kiwis and the Brits. It would be all to play for in the final race.
After getting off the starting line well and taking an inside track at mark one, ORACLE TEAM USA was in a strong position early.
But a missed windshift saw both Emirates Team New Zealand and SoftBank Team Japan bounce the team around. In the light winds, recovery was impossible.
"We just didn't feel that quick all day. We had a decent lead and then we just got tangled up with those two and fell back a bit. We didn't feel fast in the light conditions and that's something we have to work on."
A bad mark rounding in the middle of the race saw Groupama Team France sneak past and second fourth place finish meant second overall in Sweden, behind the Kiwis, and just ahead of the Brits.
"We wanted to win, there are no two ways about it. But a sceond place finish gives us something to shoot for in Bermuda.
"It's very tight between the first three teams here, and even further back, anyone can do well. We saw that today.
"We sailed really well yesterday, but we clearly have to work on how we approach the lighter conditions.
"The results do the talking. There are no excuses. Everyone is sailing with the same gear."
Spithill had praise for the Kiwi winners at the Official Prizegiving: "I'd like to congratulate Emirates Team New Zealand. They sailed a great regatta."
Land Rover BAR second overall after two events (from Land Rover BAR)
The second and final day of racing at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Gothenburg produced some of the toughest conditions in the series so far, with a light and shifty wind. There was concern that there wouldn't be enough breeze, but two races were completed and Land Rover BAR worked hard to come back from a couple of difficult starts. The team recovered to third in Race 3, but had to settle for a frustrating fifth in Race 4. The results placed them third overall at Gothenburg, just behind Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA, and second overall in the series. It's all to play for going into the final event of the year in Bermuda, October 16-18th.
Skipper and Team Principal Ben Ainslie: "It was a tough day today, the wind was a lot lighter than it has been for the previous racing, and it was a new dynamic for all of the teams. We struggled a little bit, we didn't have great starts and we struggled to get through the pack in both races today. We fought our way through and finished up on the podium overall which we are happy with – of course we would have liked to have been on top of the podium, but this is another step along the America's Cup journey for us, and it's good to be competing at the top of this circuit."
"For a new team we're performing well, we've certainly got plenty of gains that we can make, and we need to keep working on that for the next event in Bermuda coming up in October."
Sailing Team Manager, Jono Macbeth: "This event in Gothenburg is the first time that the team has competed away from home, and it's been a fantastic regatta. We haven't had the result we wanted but we were right in the hunt until the very end. Going into the last race there were three teams all tied on the same points. The boys sailed really well in incredibly tricky conditions, and all in all I think it's been a good result for the team."
Race One
Skipper and Team Principal Ben Ainslie: "In both races today the start was critical, and in both races we weren't great. We started at the bottom end of line, it was an all or nothing start and it didn't come off; it put us on the back foot. We were coming back from a difficult position in both races. We wanted to be higher up the podium, but that is the nature of racing, dealing with the conditions and trying to get it right on the day. These are difficult boats to sail, and in some ways, it's harder today than when we are flying around, balancing the boats on the foils. These are all fantastic sailors in all the teams, and the standard is getting better and better as we move forward."
Wing Trimmer, Paul 'CJ' Campbell-James: "We didn't have the best of starts or first reach, but Giles picked some good shifts, and we were sailing the boat fast so we managed to pick off a few boats."
Race Two
Skipper and Team Principal Ben Ainslie: "When we were at the back of the fleet the guys really dug deep. I was pleased with how we kept pushing hard, trying to get every place back. We were very close to getting Oracle Team USA right at the finish, which would have got us second place overall in Gothenburg. And although we weren't at the right end of the fleet today, overall we're on the podium and I was pleased with how the team dealt with the difficult conditions and we will move forwards from here."
Wing Trimmer, Paul 'CJ' Campbell-James: "We started a bit further up the line and we could have hit the line a little bit earlier, and we managed to get rolled just at the start. Then the gybe set at the first mark could have really paid for us, we saw the New Zealanders in Portsmouth do that gybe set and make massive gains. Unfortunately, the gust didn't quite come down quick enough and we ended up pretty deep at the bottom mark and we had to work hard to get back up. We battled with Artemis Racing until the top of the final run, and we weren't giving up on Oracle Team USA until they crossed the finish line, and there was only a few seconds in it at the end. I think that's a really good part of this team, that they will fight to the end."
A result full of hope for the future (from Groupama Team France)
Finishing in sixth and last place in the second event of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, the crew of Groupama Team France led by Franck Cammas leaves Gothenburg with some positive and not so positive memories, safe in the knowledge that they are making progress with this ambitious French challenge. With Emirates Team New Zealand taking the win ahead of Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR, the Swedish event has been outstanding, both in terms of the four races contested and the weather conditions that reigned on this atypical race zone.
When you're striving for excellence at the very top level, you can expect to experience some tough times. That certainly does not translate as giving up though, quite the contrary in fact. On the shores of the North Sea, amidst a multitude of islands and islets, the men and women in Groupama Team France are realistic.
Questioned on Sunday on his return to the dock having secured a sixth then a third place in the day's two races, Franck Cammas sums up the situation simply: "We still have a great deal of progress to make before we can battle it out with the head of the fleet on a regular basis. The distance between the top three and ourselves isn't massive, but it's enough for them to beat us. It's going to be difficult to reverse the trend between now and the final event of the season, in Bermuda in seven weeks' time, but we know what we still have to do".
Pulling off some solid starts, correctly positioned on what was at times a tough race zone to get a handle on tactically, the French sometimes failed to quickly find the right trim and get up to speed in the transitions: "In the blustery conditions in particular, we're not yet up to standard. The boat is very quick, very technical and very physically demanding. To really exploit her to the full, you have to spend hours and hours sailing, which is something we can't do right now due to a lack of means. However, we're preparing the sports programme with Bruno Dubois so as the five of us can amass more hours on the water together and gain the necessary reflex actions to perform well," explains Thierry Fouchier, the only Frenchman to have won the America's Cup, in charge of trimming the wing.
Put at a disadvantage on Sunday due to the absence of tactician Arnaud Psarofaghis, a victim of food poisoning, and replaced by Sébastien Stéphant, the crew of Groupama Team France missed out on a superb comeback by posting a poor second half in the third race. Pulling off another solid start in the fourth and final race of the event, Franck Cammas and his crew managed to hold onto their position right the way to the end, finishing ahead of the Americans and the English and pressuring Dean Barker's Japanese team right the way to the finish: "We weren't far off the mark as everything's easier in the light airs. We had quite a good day on Sunday, but over the two days we finished in our rightful place given our performance. In the blustery conditions in particular, we still have a lot of work ahead of us. However, I'm convinced we can get there as we have a great team," concludes Thierry Fouchier.
A few points shy of Artemis and SoftBank Team Japan, who were on their tails in Portsmouth, Groupama Team France will now set its sights on the third and final event of the year, which will be contested in Bermuda from 16 to 18 October:
"Unfortunately, the regulations stipulate that we cannot train on site on an AC45 F (the craft used for the LVACWS) more than two days ahead of the event. However, we'll get in some training the week after the race with SoftBank Team Japan," adds Franck Cammas. In the meantime, Franck will be defending his 2013 title in the Little Cup in Geneva from 13 to 20 September and participating in the European Nacra 17 Championship in Barcelona from 26 September to 3 October.
Adventures of a Sailor Girl Day 2 Interviews (from Nic Douglass)
Chats with:
- Dean Barker, SoftBank Team Japan about the team's second in the last race today
- Nathan Outteridge, Artemis Racing the comeback kids winning a race in front of their home crowd today
- Paul Campbell-James, Land Rover BAR on the consistency of the team and whether this is their secret to slick crew handling
- Ben Ainslie, Land Rover BAR covering gear changing and the speed loss in race 4 today
- Jimmy Spithill, Oracle Team USA about what is to come for the team, the next "home" event in Bermuda and feelings on two seconds in a row
- Pete Burling, Emirates Team NZ on his first America's Cup event win, the Moth, the 49er - seriously an awesome competitor across the board.
www.AdventuresofaSailorGirl.com
www.facebook.com/sailorgirl218