Even though winning the practice regattas in the Sailing America’s Cup It is considered a bad omen in the competition, on the first day of the preliminaries of Vilanova i la Geltrú neither team seemed to care much. Emirates Team New Zealanddefending champion, swept the first three sleeveswarning his rivals that he will not easily let go of the hundred guineas jug.
The day, meteorologically speaking, it seemed ideal. However, the desired wind for the ones AC40 monohulls ‘they will fly’ slacked off at times. Vilanova looked splendid on the seafront and at sea. And the six squads They were finally able to demonstrate their fitness in the water.
A strong first start
Judging by the final results, the New Zealanderswho organize the 37th edition of this nautical competition as winners of the last one, they promise to make it difficult. In the first, they came out first and no one took them out from there. In the next two, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and American Magic New York Yacht Club They tried to stand up to him, but the ‘kiwis’ did not let themselves.
At the other extreme were the French. Those of Orient Express Racing Club, who have only been training with the AC40 for three weeks, were at the bottom in all three races. Both in his case and in those who remained in the central part of the classification, Ineos Britannia and Alinghi Red Bull Racingthey have three days ahead of them to improve.
Scoring tests
And it is that until this Friday and Saturday there will be no points, in order to position oneself in a Sailing America’s Cup in which only winning is useful. On Sunday, only the two best, those who have been best placed the previous days, will fight in a ‘one against one’ that will give the winner of Vilanova.
From the water, some automated buoys They modified the race course on a couple of occasions during the race, depending on how the wind. There were not many boats watching the show from the waterbut they were all kept perfectly organized thanks to the ‘marshalls’ of the organization, inflatable boats, which gave directions to the nautical spectators. All of them had previously registered, which they must do every day.
The ‘chase zero’, in action
As has been happening for months in Barcelona, the auxiliary boats of the teams were chasing their sailboats with wings watching every movement at all times. In some cases, between races, there were even those who changed sails to take advantage of the wind.
Among all the auxiliaries, the brand new ‘chase zero’ stood out, the organization’s boat propelled with green hydrogen. America’s Cup Events (ACE) will have the other five teams also use these non-polluting boats next year in Barcelona. What was not lacking in the sea was the police omnipresenceheaded by the Civil Guard, competent in that environment.
Pending scoring
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Upon returning from first official regattas of Vilanova, the bosses were more or less satisfied with the day, depending on how it had gone. Two hours After touring the Vilanova coastline, all mental efforts were dedicated to thinking about what will happen from Friday, when the role they play in the sea will ‘count’.
The question is whether Emirates Team New Zealand It will remain just as intractable (competitively speaking) as in the first hours.