Prediction Time?
So how will the teams fare? Hard to predict; changes to the boats can also mix things up a lot. Media attention likes to focus on secrecy, new weapons etc. But that is all par for the course. The Louis Vuitton Cup attempts to pick the best Challenger, so everything's kosher, as long as you get it vetted.
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Totale |
| New Zealand | | | | | | - | - | - | - | 0 |
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| Luna Rossa | | | | | | - | - | - | - | 0 |
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The boats are both competitive. In the Round Robins, each won against the other. Small factors will be the difference-makers.
- Pre-starts ought to be key. The team who wins the toss to enter first on starboard starts with a slight advantage, given the odd number of races. LR won the coin toss and will race with ITA94. NZ will be on 92, anew.
- Barker won't be foiled as often as Dickson was... although LR seem to be good at snookering their opponents. After 3-4 matches, we'll see how the right side entry converts to winning starts. We'll see if Spithill is the man of the hour (and if Philippe Presti, second helmsman and trainer of the first, will have figured Barker's mindset)
- LR's tactics of catching that first wind shift is not about to change. They were 6 on 6 in the semis; you don't drop a winning forumla. But one can safely bet they won't have the same success rate this time around.
- LR is strong windward. If they manage to hold this strength, they are going to be tough.
Boat speed and tacking/gybing skills are then factored in. TNZ is better suited for the 10-12 knot range, which Valencia's weather seems to sustain. Yet LR were the first to train in these waters and the weather team has not missed a beat. TNZ tacks and gybes admirably, but that did not seem to give them an upperhand when needed against Desafío. These uncertainties will clear up within a few matches.
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