NZL380 has a fight on its hands

The last two days of racing will be crucial for Emirates Team New Zealand’s chance of winning its third MedCup regatta in succession.

Grant Dalton sums it up: “We have a fight on our hands to win this one.”

The team is watching the weather forecast intently: a very light breeze is forecast for both days.

That’s not what skipper Dean Barker and his crew want for two reasons: races might be abandoned when it’s really light lost and luck can be the decider in a drifter.

After a second in the coastal race sailed on Friday (Portuguese time) NZL380 slipped to second overall in the Portugal Trophy, 1.5 points behind the Swedish entry Artemis.

That puts greater emphasis on the four races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Grant Dalton: “The forecast as we head into tomorrow and for the next two days is very light. It looks like we have had the breeze, so every race becomes important. If it’s really light we might not get starts for them all.”

NZL380 started Friday on equal points with Artemis, but leading on count back. Artemis is now top of the leader board on 16.5 points, with Emirates Team New Zealand on 18 points and Quantum on 23. (The coastal race counts 1.5 points per place – first 1.5 points, second 3 points etc).

However, on Friday Dean Barker and crew did add 1.5 points to its overall lead in the series and is now on 111.5 points, 50 points clear of Artemis on 161.5.

Grant Dalton describes the coastal race: “A series of turning marks laid in the vicinity of Portimao gave a combination of upwind legs, downwind legs and some reaching legs. The breeze at the start was around 15 knots and never really built over that.

“Today was the day when we didn’t start well. We got flushed right off the line and only our upwind speed kept us in touch at the top mark but it wasn’t until later in the race on a long upwind beat that we really got back into it.

“As the race progressed three boats emerged as contenders - ourselves, Matador and Artemis.

“In this race we had good patches and a couple of not so good, the start being one, one bad sail call (that let Artemis through) and one average run – that’s the difference between first and second.”

Tactician Ray Davies: “We were back a bit at the start and managed to make ground right through the race. We got to second behind Matador by the fifth mark.

“On the second to last leg Artemis put a reaching gennaker up and slipped past us to leeward and took the lead. That was the move of the race.

“Matador slipped to third and we held on to second. And that’s the way it finished.”

The last word to Grant Dalton: “Overall for the season we have crept out a little more, but we have a real fight on our hands to win this regatta.”
Audi MedCup Circuit 2009
Portugal Trophy - Overall - Day 3
1. Artemis (SWE), 3+4+2+2+4+1,5= 16,5 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 2+3+6+3+1+3= 18 points
3. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+1+4+8+3+6= 23 points
4. Bigamist (POR), 5+5+1+1+8+7,5= 27,5 points
5. Matador (ARG), 4+11(DSQ)+7+4+5+4,5= 35,5 points