He wind it has blown enough this Sunday to crown a victor preliminary regatta of the Sailing America’s Cup of Vilanova i la Geltrú, after four days of wind shortage. The Americans have prevailed over the New Zealanders, defenders of the title and organizers of the event in Barcelona 2024, the French have done a better job than expected and the British, last, have admitted that they have failed in their priorities.
In it third day of competition (on Thursday they were practices) three rounds have been held and the until 10 knots of wind (18 km/h) reached at some point have allowed enjoy the show of the AC40 monohulls. On the beach and from the sea, there were numerous spectators following the regattas.
A known winner
He American Magic New York Yacht, the squad with the most titles in this historic competition (29 of the 36 editions) has come first in two of the three rounds and second in the other. He Emirates Team New Zealand has won in one. What has not been possible to do is the final match race, one against one, between the two finalists. They have come out, they have tried, but at that moment the wind had already fallen and it has not been possible to fly with the ‘foils’.
The boss of the American, Terry Hutchison, was satisfied with the result of the preliminary. They had gone to Vilanova to present their firm candidacy for victory: in Barcelonathey want to recover the hundred guineas jug for your country. The kiwis They won’t make it easy for you because they know the AC40 better than anyone else, they have set the rules of the competition and they also have a competitive team.
Negative feedback
Beyond the winner and finalist, in Ineos Britannia there were long faces. They have finished last of the six teams. One of the coaches, Xabi Fernandezit fit that they had been more attentive to working on the AC75 prototypethe boat that will be used next year in the Catalan capital, to refine the group’s work.
At the other extreme, the French, with only 12 days training with the AC40 from Vilanova, they have given the surprise, climbing to the third place. “It has been a gift for us,” commented a delighted Kevin Pepponet (Orient Express Racing Team), one of the two canes of the Gauls.
Now, Jeddah
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Italians and swiss They have been left half way. They have had good moments in the races, but Alinghi Red Bull Racing has not been able to participate in the third heat for a hydraulic failure that they have not been able to correct, lamented the co-technical director of the team, Silvio Arrivabene.
The pre-regatta these days has served to measure the forces of the six teams. Now, the next appointment is at the end of November in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), where again it will be used the same monohull but where, surely, the crews will be more lubricated and, if the wind allows it, the spectacle of the Formula 1 of the sea.