First scores on the board

Best of seven-race quarter finals start in Auckland

Orm versus Le Defi Areva

Jesper Bank at the helm of Orm scored an emphatic victory over Le Defi Areva.

Philippe Presti, back at the helm of the yellow boat in a southerly wind of 14–18 knots, had a close pre-start battle against the Swedes and crossed the line one second ahead.

Victory Challenge worked hard to protect the right hand side and started to windward of Le Defi, close to the committee boat and quickly got into their stride to capture the lead. The French boat fought a close fight all the way up the first beat with very similar boatspeed to Orm for the first half of the beat.

The Swedes only pulled out a definite lead after Le Defi opted to do a double tack near the windward mark, allowing Orm to lead by 23 seconds around the first mark. Thereafter the Victory Challenge boat extended all the way down the run and by the leeward mark had built up an unassailable lead.

Orm crew list
Bow Jonas Wackenhuth
Mid Bow Martin Krite
Mastman Anders Dahlsjö
Pitman Henrik Blakskjær
Starboard Grind Henrik Norberg
Port Grind Claus Olesen
Floater Magnus Augustson
Spinnaker Trim Oskar Ljung
Genoa Trim Mikkel Røssberg
Traveler Oscar Angervall
Main Sail Trim Thomas Hallberg
Runner Grind Kasper Vang
Strategist Mats Johansson
Navigator Johan Barne
Tactician Stefan Rahm
Helmsman Jesper Bank
17th man Hugo Stenbeck

Le Defi Areva crew list
Bow Romain Troublé
Mid Bow Gilles André
Mastman Fabrice Blondel
Pitman Timmy Kroger
Starboard Grind Jean-Paul Levrel
Port Grind Frédéric Lemaistre
Floater Eric Carret
Spinnaker Trim Dimitri Despierres
Genoa Trim Thierry Douillard
Traveler Sébastien Col
Main Sail Trim Tanguy Cariou
Mainsail Grinder Julien Cressant
Strategist Fabrice Levet
Navigator Philippe Mourniac
Tactician Luc Gellusseau
Helmsman Philippe Presti
17th man Mr Hugues Robert, Général Legris Industries