Prada levels

Italian team make dramatic comeback on day two of Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals

ALINGHI (SUI-64) BEAT usa-76 – Delta 00:29
Alinghi leads Oracle BMW Racing by 2-0

Although the weather conditions were quiet for the start of the second race of the semi final, the pre-start action between this pair was close as both appeared to favour the right hand side of the course.

After a long dial up, most of the manoueuvring took place at the committee boat end of the line and, as the starting gun went, it was USA-76 that managed to secure the extreme right hand end with Alinghi starting a boatlength to leeward. Shortly after the start, the breeze began to swing to the right, suggesting that USA-76 would have the most advantageous position on this leg.

Yet Alinghi kept close and sailed a skillful first leg and not only stayed in contention but rounded ahead at the first weather mark. Over the next three legs, the Swiss team steadily increased their lead to 65 seconds by the second leeward mark rounding.

The breeze in the Gulf then started its trip around the bay in the opposite direction and swung nearly 50 degrees to the left. Chris Dickson's team aboard Oracle BMW Racing worked hard at capitalising on this and did manage to haul back distance on Alinghi, slashing their lead to 38 seconds at the last weather mark rounding. But by the finish Alinghi had protected their position to cross the line 29 seconds in front in a match where their lead was never seriously challenged.

"It was difficult to see the marks of the course because the visibility was so low," commented Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth. "We didn't rely on our instruments, but concentrated as usual on working out when the wind was coming in. We had the same number of people looking for breeze as on any other day."