With wind gusts of up to 30 knots over Plymouth Sound, the spectators were treated to some spectacular sailing on Sunday. The first team to capsize was Aleph. Right at the start of the fleet race, the French team capsized over the bow, right in front of the Plymouth waterfront. Next, Team Korea was unlucky at the windward mark and also capsized over the bow. And annoyingly close to the finish line, Green Comm Racing was caught in a heavy squall. Sporting Director Luca Devoti said: "Nobody was hurt, but the wing took a bit of damage. We will need two days to repair it." In all three cases, the crew members were unharmed.
The images from Plymouth convey what Russell Coutts has promised as the new America's Cup: Action on the water. And to nip any discussion in the bud, James Spithill, Oracle helmsman, said: "It was definitely great regatta sailing, but not yet at the limits of these boats, there is still more to come."
The New Zealanders won the Fleetrace preliminary round by just one point ahead of Oracle Racing Spithill.
1st Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) - 37 points
2. Oracle Racing Spithill/James Spithill (USA) - 36
3rd Artemis Racing (SWE) - 29
4th Oracle Racing Coutts/Russell Coutts (USA) - 26
5th China Team (CHN) - 22
6th Aleph (FRA) - 20
7th Energy Team (FRA) - 19
8th Team Korea (KOR) - 17
9th Green Comm (ESP) - 13
Team Oracle Racing Coutts won the AC500 Speed, a show discipline for the spectators in which the aim is to cover 500 metres as quickly as possible, with 37.48 seconds and an average speed of almost 26 knots, just half a second ahead of the New Zealanders.
Monday and Tuesday are rest days, on Wednesday the regatta continues with the qualifying races for the match races.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
