GBR Challenge win start but lose to Prada

by GBR Challenge 10 Oct 2002 09:14 BST

Photos © Rick Tomlinson The GBR Challenge crew upwind White lightning approaches the windward mark

After winning the start against the holders of the Louis Vuitton Cup, GBR Challenge were overtaken by superior boat speed and eventually lost a closely fought race to the Italian Prada syndicate by 22 seconds.

A two hour delay to wait for wind proved worthwhile as a 13 knot breeze provided the ideal conditions for racing. GBR Challenge had the unfavoured port entry into the box but after a dial-up, immediately attacked Prada. ITA 74 was pushed out to the left hand side as Andy Beadsworth took GBR70 to the right. Rod Davis helmed Luna Rosa back to the right hand side of the course, but as Wight Lightning came back she forced Prada to the pin end of the line and tacked to cross the line at the committee boat, a second after the gun fired.

Wight Lightning, with Ian Walker taking the helm, sailed to the right hand side of the course and established an early lead over the experienced Italian team. As Prada headed to the left, the teams were over two kilometres apart on the course, before Angelis tacked back towards the British boat. Initially GBR were over 30 seconds ahead, but as Wight Lightning tacked back, Prada found better pressure on the left hand side of the course. As Harrison’s men came across on starboard tack and then tacked onto the layline, Prada were positioned to windward. Despite having sailed above the line, Prada were able to bear away and gain extra speed that allowed the Italian team to sneak ahead of GBR 70 and take a five second lead into the first run.

Prada rounded and put up an asymmetric, whilst GBR Challenge hoisted a more conventional spinnaker that allowed the British team to sail lower and inside the Italians. Initially Wight Lightning took the lead after a perfect hoist, but then Prada gained. As the boats gybed together, ITA 74 emerged with slightly better speed and then extended. The British team tried to block the Italians from their run-in to the mark, but Prada found just enough boat speed to cross ahead and lead by … at the leeward mark.

Walker engaged Prada into a tacking duel at the start of the beat, with the British displaying good boat handling to reduce their lead. After tacking to cover three times, Prada crossed to the right hand side of the course whilst GBR Challenge headed to the left. As the windspeed rose to 17 knots the Italian team extended to lead by 31 seconds at the second windward mark.

Prada increased their lead by a further five seconds on the downwind leg, but the British regained three seconds on the beat. The final run again saw GBR Challenge put better pressure on the Italians, cutting their lead to 15 seconds after finding better pressure on the right hand side. Prada held onto their lead to take the hard fought point.

Wight Lightning (GBR-70)

• Bow - Matt Cornwall
• Mid Bow - Mark Sheffield
• Mast - Mo Gray
• Pit - James Stagg
• Pit Runner - Ben Morrison-Jack
• Trim upwind - Mal Parker
• Trim downwind - Simon Fry
• Grinder Starboard - Guy Reid
• Grinder Port - Ian Weighell
• Mid Grinder - Jim Turner
• Main Trimmer - Chris Mason
• Navigator - Jules Salter
• Aft Grinder - Chris Main
• Strategist - Andy Beadsworth
• Skipper - Ian Walker
• Tactician - Adrian Stead
• 17th Man - Peter Harrison