[YachtNews]

With a rather normal prestart, the boats got underway on race four, June 5th. The Luna Rossa were in a must win situation and both teams recieved a pretty good start. Luna Rossa took the right side and ETNZ the left. The Luna Rossa found pretty good favour with the wind and for the first time of the finals, the LR enjoyed a three boat length lead in the begining. Dramatically, the ETNZ tacked to the right hand side and found some favourable pressure which gave them better boat speed and the lead! The boats round mark 1.

Mark 1: The ETNZ had a sizable lead when they rounded the first mark 19 seconds ahead of the Luna Rossa. They (Kiwis) set the spinnaker flawlessly and were underway downwind. About halfway downwind to the second mark, the ETNZ pressed 90+M lead on the Luna Rossa. With the course adjusted by 10 degrees from 065 to 075 degrees, it seemd to favour the Kiwis.

Mark 2: At Delta, the ETNZ extended the lead to 54 seconds rounding the closer gate. Unbelievably, the Luna Rossa chose the far gate and paid the price, so to speak. They lost two boat lengths by doing this extra run to the lower gate. By doing this, when they rounded, the Luna Rossa were nearly 190+M behind the ETNZ. It was then, an all out drag race to the 3rd mark. This leg was filled with gybes and tacks, each team trying to force error to each other but it remained the ETNZ in a giant lead towards the 3rd mark.

Mark 3: The ETNZ rounded the third mark and added 6 seconds on advantage over their mark 2 Delta, wich means at mark 3 they were exactly a full minute (60seconds) ahead of the Luna Rossa. With a pretty good Kite set, the ETNZ powered towards the finish on the final leg. At this time the LR really lost it and mostlikely gave up. The point was just to finish the race now.

What does this mean? ETNZ are now 4 and LR, 0. An almost impossible position to comeback from now. So it is almost safe to say that the Alinghi will face the ETNZ for the 32nd Americas Cup. What is next for the Italians?

[Kevin]

The house lights have been dimmed... the curtain begins to part... the fat lady is taking her steps towards center stage...

[YachtNews]

A very close start at the beginning but the ETNZ seemed to have the slight initial advantage going ahead by 1 second. With 16M lead, Dean Barker made early inroads. Up to the first mark, the lead extended to about four boat lengths.

Mark 1: The ETNZ rounded the first mark first and set spinnaker flawlessly but 20 seconds ahead. Eventhough the Luna Rossa set flawlessly as well, they were initially 86+M behind on the downwind run. By this point the race between the two boats started to become closer. Just at a time when the Italians appeared to be making progress in catching up, mark 2 was in sight. The ETNZ took theright gate at mark 2.

Mark 2: The Delta on advantage remained the same for the ETNZ at 20 seconds and the LR had to play some catch up. The LR decides to follow the ETNZ around the right gate. The opposite to yesterday at the same mark. In light winds, they dragraced upwind towards the 3rd mark.

Mark 3: Amazingly at each mark they boats did not seem to pull away any further or closer in terms of the Delta times. Again, the ETNZ rounded the 3rd mark 20 seconds ahead of the LR. With LR realizing that they have to throw everything, a series of gybes get them alot closer to the ENZ, in fact they closed the gap to about one and a half boat lengths but a sprint to the finish reveals only one winner. Team New Zealand sailed across the line 20 seconds ahead. For the first time open celebrations were evident on board the ETNZ

This means that the ETNZ are 5 and the Luna Rossa 0. It also means that it is final and that the Kiwis will indeed face the Alinghi in the Americas cup on June 23.

[YachtNews]

Originally Posted by Kevin

The house lights have been dimmed... the curtain begins to part... the fat lady is taking her steps towards center stage...

Does she start to sing as yet or she has to wait untill June 23?

[Hawk]

Emirates Team New Zealand became the first team to go undefeated in the 24-year history of the Louis Vuitton Cup final.

GO TEAM GO!!!!!!

[Kevin]

They were only undefeated in the Finals... Desafio beat 'em twice in the semis.

[K1W1]

Hi,

My user name should be enough to say who I support outright I just hope they don't get to cocky and blow it like their rugby playing counterparts seem to be able to do on a regular basis.

[YachtNews]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

My user name should be enough to say who I support outright I just hope they don't get to cocky and blow it like their rugby playing counterparts seem to be able to do on a regular basis.

Well K1W1, you saw what happned when LR blanked BMWO 5-1 and they got cocky and overconfident comming into the finals and got blanked 5-0 by the Kiwis.
Today is the first time I actually saw the Kiwis/crew celebrating openly, they normally were reserved about their wins untill now. So they should keep this confidence in check as they still have the biggest task at hand, start June 23.

[K1W1]

Hi,

I will be passing Valencia on evening of 15 or morning of 16 June and will be in Barcelona when the real races start. I hope to be able to see full coverage.

It would be great to see the Americas Cup return to Auckland, the whole country just about built their economy on it and the loss of it has been more than a bloody nose on the sports scene.

Everyone I have encountered who was there regardless of the syndicate they were with or supporting had a great time which just goes to reinforce the opinion of NZ as one of the worlds greatest travel destinations.

[YachtNews]

Welcome back to reports of the Americas Cup racing. This time we will see if the Emirates Team New Zealand will work wonders once again against the defender, the Alinghi. The Alinghi will be looking to make sure that they retain this coveted defender title.

ETNZ92 VS SUI100

Today, the 23 of June got started in good wind and some chop and it was almost immediately evident that the chop would play a part. The tension started about 10 seconds before the boats got away from the prestart. The ETNZ took a good start even thought that it was just by a meere couple of meters- about 1 second ahead-. The Swiss boat, very close behind followed very briefly as they dragraced to the top mark for the first time in this Best Of Nine.

Mark 1: Alinghi rounded the first mark perfectly with a great set of the spinnaker. They then barrelled downwind 13 seconds ahead on advantage. The ETNZ were behind for the first time in the races and needed to play catch up. About 3/4 of the way downwind the Alinghi stretched a lead of over 100M. The Alinghi then raised their Genoa early and then dropped their kite into the sewer within 8 seconds for Mark 2.

Mark 2: Powering their way around the left buoy, the Alinghi extended the lead to 20 seconds on Delta, gaining some 7 seconds. The ETNZ decided to take the right gate at the second mark and try to play catch up once more. This catch up never really materialized and so the lead was maintained even though the Kiwis gained by a couple seconds at the Third mark.

Mark 3: With the Alinghi still in the lead by rounding the 3rd Mark it was safe to say that they would be the clear winners of the first race of 9 ( if needed). The ETNZ reduced the Delta to 14 seconds, gaining 6 seconds. However, once again the Swiss sindicate proved that they were faster on the downwind runs. With the kites and jibs up they sailed towards the green finish markers.

On the entrance to the finish the Swiss boat, SUI100 amassed some +35 seconds on the ETNZ. Making this a definite win and the drawing of first blood so to speak. This then means that the Alinghi are 1 and the ETNZ are 0. More on the Americas Cup racing, tomorrow when the second day begins.

Great reporting, thanks Yachtluver.

[YachtNews]

ETNZ92 VS SUI100

The second day was filled with thrills and spills for both boats. A similar start for both boats today as was seen yesterday interms of the time off the start. From deep within the prestart box to the last seconds in the top of the box, the guel was on. Once again team NZ took advantage and started well on the horn, fighting for the right hand side. They gained the right and enjoyed a 20M lead early on. However, like yesterday, Alinghi caught up and gave ETNZ bad air forcing the Kiwis to tack away. Halfway up the windward mark, the Alinghi stole two boat lengths in lead after tacking from left to the right hand side. Numerous tacks filled the run to the first mark and the ETNZ looked good as they gained everytime they cut to the left-seemed to be a lefthand shift at the time-. Mark 1 was in sight.

Mark 1: Rounding mark 1, the Alinghi pressed a 19 second advantage. However, they gybed away almost immediately and allowd the ETNZ to gain somewhat. However, they were still behind on rounding the gates.

Mark 2: The Alinghi dropped the spinnaker and bolted around the left buoy as if being chased down by a very bad nightmare. The ETNZ dropped kite and took the opposite, the right gate. They -ETNZ- beat upwind once more, gaining another boatlength. At this stage, the ETNZ were a mere 10M behind then they took the lead by 5M at first for the first time in the race. Now the ETNZ made a starboard tack heading for the third mark.

Mark 3:At mark 3, the NZ stretched the lead to 15 seconds advantage on Delta. Amazing stuff from the Kiwis to make a comeback like this against the Alinghi. After being overtaken, the Alinghi gybed away to see if some fresh air could be attained and close the then 88M gap. This never materialized and the ETNZ pulled away even further, creating some sweet revenge for the Kiwis. The Kiwis flew through the finish some 28 seconds ahead of the Swiss.

What does this mean? The scores are now Level!!!! Swiss Alinghi 1 and Kiwi New Zealand 1. Stay tuned folks this best of 9 is going to be very exciting.
With a rest day tommorow, stay tuned for more reports on the Americas Cup.

[YachtNews]

Originally Posted by lminford

Great reporting, thanks Yachtluver.

Thanks lminford.

[CNRules]

Are any of the TV or cable stations here in the United States covering the races live -- so we can watch them?

[Kevin]

http://www.versus.com/ holds the US rights to the AC.