NZL 92 bows out as Race 7 goes to the wire
04/07/07
A penalty on the approach to the third mark cost NZL 92 any chance of winning the seventh race of the America’s Cup match.
It was an exciting final match of the 32nd America’s Cup, retained by Alinghi 5 -2. As it was SUI 100 won what proved to be the last race by only 1 second.
The penalty decided the outcome. Penalised for a port-starboard incident at the windward mark, NZL 92 also lost the lead it had fought to defend all the way up the second beat.
Not only did NZL 92 have to regain the lead, but also had to complete the 360 degree turn. It seemed an impossible hurdle.
Then as the final run progressed the breeze began to fade and then a died away. It also shifted 40 degrees to the left.
Both yachts dropped their spinnakers and went on the wind to the finish line. SUI 100 fell into a hole and NZL 92 chewed into the deficit then took the lead. Right on the line NZL 92, with almost a 70m lead, did the turn
Alinghi was picking up speed and heading for the line. NZL 92 was right on the line and Alinghi sailed inside them, taking the win by 1 second.
The race started even with SUI 100 to windward. The early advantage went to NZL 92 but Alinghi snatched the lead from Emirates Team New Zealand at the end of the first beat. SUI 100 rounded the mark 7 seconds ahead.
NZL 92 set up for the run and attacked, closing the gap and then three-quarters of the way down the run, NZL 92 rolled over the Swiss and took the lead.
NZL took the left-hand mark at the gate rounding 14 seconds ahead. SUI 100 took the right. The second beat was almost a repeat of the first, NZL 92 successfully defending from the left.
Then when the boats were almost at the top mark, NZL 92 on port and SUI 100 coming in from the right on starboard, forced the port-starboard incident and snatched the lead, rounding 12 seconds ahead.
Quotes from Grant Dalton
All credit to Alinghi. They kept it close when we got past them on the first run they just kept on sailing the way they do and beat us fair and square in the end.
It don’t think the margin today really matters. They still won it.
The guys have done an amazing job. It’s been a long four years. Of course I’m enormously proud.
We enjoyed winning the Louis Vuitton but we always knew it was only a step along the road to the ultimate prize of the America’s Cup. We didn’t come here to just take part. We came here to win it. We haven’t done that, so we’re just going to have to re-group and have a look at what the future holds.
We’ve been focussed on the now. We’ll need a bit of time to look at what happens next.
Our sponsors, suppliers and the New Zealand fans have been absolutely marvellous. They’ve been so supportive both here and in New Zealand.
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One second at the end.
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