After a week’s wait, race 1 is under way Matthew Sheahan reports blow by blow
2hr 32min 40sec – USA-17 crosses the line to take race 1 of the 33rd America’s Cup
2hr 24min – And so the pain continues for Alinghi, unable to catch the flying tri. The distance between the pair remains the same as does the prospect of who’s going to win the first race in this best of three series.
2hr 10min – BMWOR has been at 3,500m ahead of Alinghi. USA-17 frequently sailing deeper and faster than her opponent. Alinghi has struggled to keep the windward hull flying for much of this race and the motion to keep her flying less smooth.
1hr 38m – Once again BMOR looks far more powerful sailing deeper, faster and smoother downwind as Alinghi struggles to keep her windward hull flying. The distance between the pair now 2,000+m as BMWOR hits 24 knots to Alinghi’s 18kts.
1hr 33min BMWOR rounds the weather mark, 3min 21 sec ahead of Alinghi – 1,500m ahead. Now half way on distance but can we expect a faster ride home?
1hr 21min – BMWOR tack onto the port lay line. Takes 20 seconds.
1hr 10min – Jib hoisted aboard BMWOR – looks like they’re expecting lighter breeze at the weather mark. Apparently it’s dropped a little to 7 knots
60 min – At the one hour stage the distance between the two hits 1km. But while the distances remain big the times aren’t quite to large given that the bots are travelling at 10m/sec
53 min – Alinghi dumps water ballast
50min – BMWOR tacks and takes 30 seconds speed to speed.
48min – Alinghi tacks
40mins – Breeze now 9 knots in the middle of the course as BMW Oracle extends its lead to 500m.
It’s the end of the speculation as to whether BMWOR has a problem in the light. She’s been able to fly both hulls easily all the way up this beat so far while Alinghi keeps dipping her windward hull in the drink.
30mins – BMWOR loses some of its lead which falls back to 150m. But then the team changes mode and sails low and fast. Have they seen something ahead? Both boats cruising at 20-21 knots.
165 degrees 6.5 knots at the top mark so breeze slightly left
20min – BMWOR furls up jib and accelerates. There was plenty of debate within the team over the last few weeks as to whether the boat is quicker or slower without a jib upwind. Seemed a strange debate to have a few days out from the America’s Cup, but as the tri pointed higher and sailed faster without the jib, they at least now know the answer!
15m 25s – BMWOR take the lead as the tri sails higher and faster. If the first 15 mins tell the tale of the America’s Cup as so many veterans of the event tell us, the advantage is clearly to BMW Oracle.
Alinghi has a penalty that in this breeze will take around 2 mins to clear.
START – And we’re off!
High drama as BMW Oracle nail a penalty on Alinghi 40 seconds into the pre-start. Boats hover upwind of line but when it’s time to turn back, BMWOR stalls out and can’t clear the line until 1min 45sec after the start.
Meanwhile Alinghi doing 20 knots upwind.
But 4 mins into the race, BMWOR super fast and pointing like a demon, reeling the Swiss in by the second
MATT’S BLOG
CLICK HERE to check out my blog for additional, Cup comment, analysis, video snippets and audio.
LINKS
LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE
OFFICIAL AMERICA’S CUP ONLINE COVERAGE
PJ Montgomery, Andy Green and Cam Lewis will provide live commentary on the racing which will include Virtual Eye live animations.
BMW ORACLE
LIVE RACE COVERAGE
Will be streaming live coverage with expert commentators Martin Tasker and Peter Lester, starting with the preparations for docking out. The coverage will then switch to the official feed for the racing. After racing BMW Oracle will switch to their live coverage back to the dock.
ESPN360
ESPN360 Free online coverage
LINKS & INFORMATION
YW PREVIEW SPECIAL
Check out our previews to the Cup as published in the January and February 2010 issues of Yachting World now available in pdf format and available free online.
CLICK HERE -AC33 PREVIEW – THE BOATS
CLICK HERE – AC33 PREVIEW PART 2 – TEAM TALK
CLICK HERE – AC33 PREVIEW PART 3 – COURSES AND CONDITIONS
YW VIDEO CLIPS
**NEW VIDEO** See BMW Oracle from astern
See BMW Oracle hit 25 knots in 6-8 knots of wind
Take a video tour around Alinghi
Russell Coutts gives a guided tour of the giant wing
OFFICIAL SITE
Official 33rd America’s Cup Site
AERIAL VIEW OF THE HARBOUR
Aerial view of Darsena and commercial harbours
FOLLOWING THE CUP – TV & ONLINE
More news on this as it comes to us but at present:
ESPN 360 has acquired the internet rights for the free live online coverage.
ESPN360 Free online coverage
WEATHER – FORECASTS
Wind and Waves Valencia – Puertos del Estado
CURRENT WEATHER
XC Weather Spain – Current National conditions
HOW TO GET TO AMERICA’S CUP VENUE
To Valencia by Air:
The easiest way is to fly to Valencia and then take a taxi. Approx cost of taxi to harbour, €20
See www.valenciaport.com for more information
Unfortunately, at this time of year there are fewer direct flights to Valencia than during the summer season. Therefore an alternative route is to fly to Alicante and either take the train or hire a car. Driving takes approx 2 hours and car rental is cheap.
To harbour from Valencia train station:
A taxi from the train station is about a 20-minute ride.
By car:
Heading to Valencia on the A7 toll motorway, connect to the V-15 or V-30 to the port, which is signposted.