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James Spithill's boss, Mr E rode the rear pulpit in both of both race of today's finale in the Match Racing championship,
as Oracle 4 defeated the suprisingly fast Energy from France
After snagging some free vegitation on the downhill leg, Bowman Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen clears the rudder shaft
In light conditons, Energy lead early in race 1 of the best of 3 series finale, in race two, Oracle 4 won the start
and stayed in front throughout.
Extremley light and extremely tight. Taking and gyebing was very slow, but the boats still squeezed out speeds
in the low teens with breeze under 5 knots.
If you got there early, you might get a seat, otherwise being 6' 5" or better would be a help!
All images © giles martin-raget / ACEA media
Match Reports:
San Diego Match Racing Championship – Final
Energy Team’s Yann Guichard looked like the more experienced match racer in his first start against ORACLE Racing’s Jimmy Spithill, winning the favored side of the line and leading into the first mark. But Guichard and crew made a crucial mistake halfway through the race, allowing the American team to sail away to the opposite side of the race track where Spithill found the wind he needed to get ahead. Protecting a slim lead, Spithill then forced Energy Team to make a very slow double tack, gaining enough of an extra margin to sail comfortably to the finish and a 1-0 lead.
ORACLE Racing Spithill was strong in the second pre-start and led Energy Team across the starting line and into the first mark. In lighter conditions, Spithill was firm in protecting his position against a French team that showed good speed in the flat water and lighter winds. But on the second lap of the course, ORACLE Racing extended away for a convincing race win, taking the Match Racing Championship 2-0.
San Diego Match Racing Championship – Placing races
Dean Barker, the skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand hounded Artemis Racing towards the starting line, pushing them close earlly, and preventing the Swedish team from building speed before the start, allowing the Kiwis an early lead. Artemis skipper Terry Hutchinson initiated a furious tacking duel to break cover on the first upwind leg, but despite gaining his freedom, he didn’t find the favorable wind shift he needed and New Zealand continued to lead onto the second lap of the course and through to the finish. ETNZ is third, with Artemis Racing fourth.
Aleph rolled over the top ORACLE Racing Coutts moments after the starting gun fired to grab a small lead at the first mark. French skipper Pierre Pennec, with limited match racing experience, sailed like a veteran from that moment onwards, trying to cover his opponent whenever possible the rest of the way around the course to win fifth place. ORACLE Racing Coutts is sixth.
Team Korea was given a penalty in a pre-start dominated by Green Comm Racing’s Vasco Zbogar and trailed around the first lap of the course. But at the bottom gate, the Spanish team gave Korean skipper Chris Draper an opportunity to split away to the opposite side of the race course where he found a favorable wind shift to steal a narrow lead. The Korean team would sail flawlessly to the finish to earn seventh place. Green Comm Racing finishes eighth.
Results – San Diego Match Racing Championship
Team Korea (7th) beat Green Comm Racing (8th)
Aleph (5th) beat ORACLE Racing Coutts (6th)
Emirates Team New Zealand (3rd) beat Artemis Racing (4th)
Final –ORACLE Racing Spithill beat Energy Team 2-0
San Diego Match Racing Championship – Final
Energy Team’s Yann Guichard looked like the more experienced match racer in his first start against ORACLE Racing’s Jimmy Spithill, winning the favored side of the line and leading into the first mark. But Guichard and crew made a crucial mistake halfway through the race, allowing the American team to sail away to the opposite side of the race track where Spithill found the wind he needed to get ahead. Protecting a slim lead, Spithill then forced Energy Team to make a very slow double tack, gaining enough of an extra margin to sail comfortably to the finish and a 1-0 lead.
ORACLE Racing Spithill was strong in the second pre-start and led Energy Team across the starting line and into the first mark. In lighter conditions, Spithill was firm in protecting his position against a French team that showed good speed in the flat water and lighter winds. But on the second lap of the course, ORACLE Racing extended away for a convincing race win, taking the Match Racing Championship 2-0.
San Diego Match Racing Championship – Placing races
Dean Barker, the skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand hounded Artemis Racing towards the starting line, pushing them close earlly, and preventing the Swedish team from building speed before the start, allowing the Kiwis an early lead. Artemis skipper Terry Hutchinson initiated a furious tacking duel to break cover on the first upwind leg, but despite gaining his freedom, he didn’t find the favorable wind shift he needed and New Zealand continued to lead onto the second lap of the course and through to the finish. ETNZ is third, with Artemis Racing fourth.
Aleph rolled over the top ORACLE Racing Coutts moments after the starting gun fired to grab a small lead at the first mark. French skipper Pierre Pennec, with limited match racing experience, sailed like a veteran from that moment onwards, trying to cover his opponent whenever possible the rest of the way around the course to win fifth place. ORACLE Racing Coutts is sixth.
Team Korea was given a penalty in a pre-start dominated by Green Comm Racing’s Vasco Zbogar and trailed around the first lap of the course. But at the bottom gate, the Spanish team gave Korean skipper Chris Draper an opportunity to split away to the opposite side of the race course where he found a favorable wind shift to steal a narrow lead. The Korean team would sail flawlessly to the finish to earn seventh place. Green Comm Racing finishes eighth.
Results – San Diego Match Racing Championship
Team Korea (7th) beat Green Comm Racing (8th)
Aleph (5th) beat ORACLE Racing Coutts (6th)
Emirates Team New Zealand (3rd) beat Artemis Racing (4th)
Final –ORACLE Racing Spithill beat Energy Team 2-0