Team Origin mistake gives Alinghi win

Published: 2:22PM Thursday February 05, 2009 Source: ONE Sport

  • Print this article
  • Text size + -

The first gold fleet race was a battle of the heavyweights after a long wait for wind on Thursday morning.

In light winds TeamOrigin have suffered their first loss despite leading Alinghi throughout most of the race.

After a protracted tussle for the start TeamOrigin took the left hand side and got away quickly with Alinghi close behind.

Alinghi tried to hang onto them but eventually had to tack right about a third of the way down the first leg.

Ben Ainslie's team stayed on the left hand side and let Alinghi go about 100 metres wide of them.

As the teams tacked back to each other TeamOrigin held a slight lead and it developed into a close exciting race.

Rounding the top mark TeamOrigin managed to tack just in front of Alinghi and with a smooth gybe set they took a 15 second lead for the first beat.

Heading into the bottom gate it looked like the British team would come across and tack in front of Alinghi to come out and take the left hand side.

However coming from the right hand side, TeamOrigin gybed and stayed right and the Swiss did the opposite to stay left but rounded 20 seconds behind at the different mark.

Alinghi fought back hard during the third leg with both teams tacking frequently but TeamOrigin managed to stay just over a boat length ahead and looked likely to keep their 100% win record intact.

At the third mark, TeamOrigin took the mark rounding very tight and lost a few seonds with their gybe set.

Coming down the last beat TeamOrigin were still in front but half-way down they made a decision to go hard to the right looking for breeze and the boats separated.

They failed to find it and produced some poor gybing as they came back and Alinghi took the adavantage and went ahead in the race for the first time.

Alinghi held this advantage and with a few extra knots they sped away to the line, winning by fifteen seconds and bringing the Swiss team right back into this regatta.

  • Print this article
  • Text size + -
  • more...

Sailing Video

Most Popular

  1. New Zealand struggling in Davis Cup clash
  2. Kiwi sailors furious after Ocean Race crash watch
  3. Danny Lee roars into Pebble Beach lead watch
  4. Lakers down Celtics in overtime
  5. Black Caps v Zimbabwe ODI series report card

rssLatest News

How do you want your news?

  • Mobile Devices

    TVNZ is available on mobile phones: Text TVNZ to 8869.

  • News Feeds

    See when TVNZ have added new content. You can get the latest headlines anywhere.

  • Podcasts

    Enjoy TVNZ on the move - a wide range of programmes and highlights are available.