Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago - Practice Day
by 35th America's Cup 11 Jun 2016 08:43 BST
10-12 June 2016
Two capsizes mark spectacular practice day in Chicago
Emirates Team New Zealand and ORACLE TEAM USA put on a spectacular show in Chicago during official practice at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series on Friday.
The teams sit one-two on the overall leaderboard, but on Friday, neither team could stay upright. The Kiwis were the first to fall, capsizing late in a close match with ORACLE TEAM USA. The Kiwis came off the foils, crashed down hard, and rolled into a capsize, with some crew members falling off the boat or jumping off the top hull. All crew were safe and accounted for and the Kiwis recovered quickly to start the next race just 15 minutes later.
Peter Burling, Emirates Team New Zealand Helmsman: "These boats are pretty hard to sail and every now and then you get them wrong. We were going through a normal gybe, both rudders ventilated and I got ejected. It was our own doing but this is what practice days are for. It was a bit of a shame but the boat didn't look too bad and we didn't have any problems being straight back for the next race. Now we're just looking forward to the rest of the weekend which I'm sure is going to be good."
It was in the next race that ORACLE TEAM USA went over. The team was well back of the leaders in the fleet race, and appeared to be surprised by Artemis Racing approaching with rights. As skipper Jimmy Spithill rolled into a quick maneuver to avoid collision, the team didn't have time to let off one of the lines, pinning the wing sail on the wrong side of the boat, and resulting in a capsize.
But as with Emirates Team New Zealand, the American team was able to recover and resume racing.
Tom Slingsby, Oracle Team USA Tactician: "It was really puffy conditions out there today, two capsizes a few minutes apart after absolutely no capsizes at all in the entire series so far. The conditions made it tough for everyone with gusts up to 15 to 20 knots and sometimes people were getting caught out. However, having said that, the conditions were very raceable, really good if you were sailing well, but if you missed the shifts in the wind they were very frustrating.
"With our capsize, it was the last race of the day. We just didn't see Artemis going upwind. We were lighting up our gybe on the layline and then saw Artemis at the last second. Jimmy [Spithill] did the right thing and turned up to avoid them but unfortunately we capsized. However, we didn't hit them and we managed not to destroy two boats, so even though it's frustrating and even though we came last in the race because of that, all in all it's better than writing off two boats and not being able to compete this weekend when it really matters. It's a practice day, it's done and now we're ready to roll tomorrow.
If one team stood out in the practice races it was SoftBank Team Japan, who won every race they started – three fleet races and a match race over Artemis Racing. Tactician Chris Draper is hoping their form will hold into the weekend.
Chris Draper, Softbank Team Japan Tactician: "We are really pleased with how it went today. The results are good, the team sailed really well and we've made a pretty significant change to the way we're sailing upwind, and that looks to have been really promising. If we can keep that moving forwards and keep building on everything we've been working on for the last three or four months, that will be great. You don't get many chances to practice and obviously the boats we practice in all the time, away from races, are very different, so today has been very valuable.
"However, the most important thing for us is to not think about the race results today. The forecast for tomorrow looks good and it all really starts tomorrow and then again on Sunday, even though it's obviously good for our team and our partners to show just how well we can perform here in Chicago."
Chicago fans turned out in force on a beautiful Friday afternoon, lining the promenade at Navy Pier.
Boats were launched at 6:00am ahead of the first race at 1:30pm. As early morning clouds gave way to sunshine, the wind filled in just ahead of start time, resulting in near perfect racing conditions.
Winds were 12 to 15 knots, with some stronger gusts up to 20 knots, creating challenging conditions for all the teams.
As per instructions from the Commercial Commissioner, the last race of the day was designated a 'substitute race'. It will only be scored as an official race if conditions do not allow for a full schedule of racing over the weekend and it is inserted into the international broadcast.
Racing on Saturday is scheduled to start at 1:30pm local time with three fleet races on the docket.
Friday substitute race results:
- SoftBank Team Japan
- Artemis Racing
- Groupama Team France
- Emirates Team New Zealand
- Land Rover BAR
- ORACLE TEAM USA
SoftBank Team Japan shine on Chicago Practice Day (from SoftBank Team Japan)
SoftBank Team Japan laid down a marker on the freshwater of Lake Michigan today at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago winning all four of the practice races they competed in.
Following a fourth place showing at last month's event in New York, the team left little question who the gun boat will be when the Chicago event begins tomorrow. If this were a Formula One race, the team would be sitting on pole position.
"I think we sailed really well today and it showed the improvements we've been making", said Skipper Dean Barker. "Today we sailed the boat well in some tricky conditions and managed to move forward through the fleet, which was one of the things, we've been trying to improve on."
The day saw two practice races, then a match race against Swedish flagged Artemis Racing, followed by a substitute race – the result of which will only be counted should a be cancelled this weekend.
In each race the team fought early to climb through the pack and then capitalized using efficient foiling techniques – skills they have been honing on their AC45S test boat in Bermuda – to extend their lead.
The day was not without incident however with Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand both capsizing in the heavy winds. Fortunately no one was injured but it was a reminder just how much is at stake racing high-speed AC45s.
Conditions are expected to continue to be very favourable for racing this weekend although the racecourse seen today was made tricky with wind shifts and gusts forcing the team to keep their heads out of the boat at all times.
"We've already debriefed tonight; learning what we did well today and what we need to work on tomorrow", said Barker. "I think based on what we've seen so far we know the winds are really variable but we expect tomorrow should be similar to today. If that's the case then it will require quick thinking and cool heads to do well."
The first day of racing at Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago begins tomorrow at 1:30pm Central Standard Time. SoftBank Team Japan currently sits in fourth place on the overall leaderboard 24 points behind Land Rover BAR.
Drama during practice racing for Emirates Team New Zealand in Chicago (from Emirates Team New Zealand)
Emirates Team New Zealand had a dramatic introduction to racing on Lake Michigan today, capsizing their AC45 while leading into a tight bottom mark during its match race against defender Oracle Team USA.
No one was injured and the boat, once upright again, rejoined the competition for the final fleet race of the day where they beat main rivals Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR.
With temperatures reaching 30 degrees and an average windspeed of around 14 knots, the puffy conditions which varied from 5 to 20 knots, set the stage for some of the best action the World Series has seen.
"We certainly needed the practice day today," said skipper Glenn Ashby, "We haven't sailed together since New York and it was certainly a baptism of fire here in Chicago, but we weren't the only ones that were a bit wobbly getting around the track. There were plenty of boats having difficulty today."
Ashby was referring to Oracle who also capsized in the final race of the day.
The day's schedule consisted of two practice fleet races, a match race and a 'spare' fleet race which will be kept in reserve in case the full race schedule does not get finished on Sunday. There were constant position changes and the differences in gains or losses were down to the smallest mistake or the slightest difference in pressure on the race course.
"What we saw today, and now know for the weekend, is that no matter how comfortable ahead you are or how far back you fall you can be in the complete opposite position within seconds" said tactician Ray Davies.
The real drama of the day was no doubt in the match race. Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling showed his class getting the better of the veteran James Spithill in the pre-start and leading Oracle around first mark, maintaining their lead until the final rounding mark where the Emirates Team New Zealand boat wound up and tipped over directly in front of the Navy Pier crowd.
"We had a little bit of a rudder ventilation going into the turn and two of our guys got ejected off the boat. I didn't quite make it to the tiller in time and we rolled the boat on its side." said Ashby.
"Luckily no one was hurt and the support boat did an amazing job getting the boat back upright to minimise any damage."
Helmsman Burling continued, "You have to push hard and certainly against Oracle you don't want to take your foot off the accelerator so these things can happen especially in great breeze like we have today. It's all part of the learning, it's what training days are for, so we will check the boat tonight and get it back in the water and be ready for racing tomorrow."
Spectacular conditions for practice day and 'first on fresh water' in Chicago (from Land Rover BAR)
The third event of the 2016 Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series (ACWS) began with practice day in Chicago. Sailing off Navy Pier, the teams completed both fleet races and match races today in some fabulous conditions with lots of high speed foiling.
For many of the Midwest audience – seeing this adrenaline fuelled racing for the first time – the highlight was a spectacular capsize by Emirates Team New Zealand in their match race with Oracle Team USA.
Racing off Navy Pier right on Chicago's waterfront, all the action was easily viewed from the city, and the crowds got a real taste of what's ahead in the opening points races tomorrow. Land Rover BAR had a solid warm up, winning their match race against Groupama Team France.
All the action - in the UK and Ireland - can be watched live on BT Sport, with Saturday's racing beginning at 19:00 on BT Sport 2; then Sunday's racing is live on BT Sport 1 beginning at 18:30. Both channels will run replays of the racing throughout the weekend.
Thoughts from the team
Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Team Principal: "It was a really great day. It was fantastic conditions, pretty shifty winds but with the flat water and the strong, gusty winds it made for great racing with the boats foiling around and lots of place changing. It was a really physical challenge for the whole team and a great warm-up for the competition tomorrow."
Ed Powys, Bow: "It was a tricky day with the breeze coming off the land and fighting the lake breeze which made it quite shifty. Generally, we felt like we sailed well. There was a lot of place changing in the fleet but we probably just missed a few shifts at the top of the beats and we didn't quite get them right. It cost us a little bit, so we're going to work on that for tomorrow and try to take the last gain into the mark. Hopefully we can close out the solid positions we held in each race."
Rob Wilson, Coach: "The course is looking great, it's very flat water, we are protected from the breakwater and the forecast is looking very good for the Sunday as the wind will be coming straight off the lake. And then today and on Saturday we have a south-westerly. That means it will be coming off the shore, but to the south of the city, so it will be shifty. It's the first time sailing these boats on freshwater, and the salinity can make a bit of a difference. But it's going to be a minor change so we have just got to get used to that and see what the differences are. There might be some slight tweaks to the boat handling."
Capsizes, Chicago, and Colbert (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
It's an exciting Friday for ORACLE TEAM USA as the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series event gets underway in Chicago.
On the official practice race day, ORACLE TEAM USA capsized in the final race of the afternoon, after making a quick-maneuver to avoid a collision.
"We just didn't see Artemis Racing coming upwind at us," explained tactician Tom Slingsby. "I'll put my hand up for this one. We were setting up for a gybe. We went into the maneuver and then saw Artemis at the last second. Jimmy pulled the helm away so luckily we didn't hit them. But unfortunately we capsized.
"Jimmy did the right thing by turning up although we did capsize and we came last in the race. But it's better than having a collision and damaging two boats and not competing on the weekend."
Watch the interview with Tom Slingsby here
It hadn't been the best day of racing to that point for the team, which sits in second place on the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series leaderboard.
But Slingsby says he expects the team to regroup ahead of the point scoring races on the weekend.
"We didn't sail to our abilities today," Slingsby lamented. "We can improve. We'll debrief well and we learn from our mistakes. Practice day done and we'll be ready to roll tomorrow."
ORACLE TEAM USA wasn't the only crew to test the fresh waters of Lake Michigan on Friday. Earlier, during a match race against ORACLE TEAM USA, it was Emirates Team New Zealand who capsized coming out of a gybe. In both cases, all crew members were safe and accounted for and the boats were quickly righted and able to continue racing.
The large crowds on Navy Pier were very vocal in their support of the American defender of the America's Cup.
"It's not often you can finish 5 minutes behind the second last boat – as we did after the capsize – and cross the finish line to a cheering crowd. It's pretty impressive," Slingsby said.
While the focus is on the racing, the crew may be tuned in to the television on Friday evening. American talk show host Stephen Colbert filmed a segment with the team at the event in New York last month. It is scheduled to air on the show on Friday beginning at 11:35pm on the CBS network.
"It was an awesome experience in New York to spend some time with Stephen Colbert," said skipper Jimmy Spithill, who expects to be the brunt of some jokes tonight. "I can't wait to see the piece."
Point scoring racing begins in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Chicago on Saturday at 1:30pm.
Find out where to watch at www.americascup.com/en/where-to-watch.html