Gamble, Then Match Race

Very risky strategy taken by LR. Rod Davis lost another start, then went to port chasing wind. OK, so LR has a trump card in Torben Grael, but the choice seemed ill-advised at the start as the two Romeo course leaders gained by going starboard.

The end of the windward leg saw the wind pick up for LR and, although not having prioity at the marker, managed to pass wide Wight Lightning in a nail-biting manoeuver. Better leeward speed through the exploitation of a gennaker (shade of Black Magic in Y2K?) and control of the opponent then comforted the lead.

The strategy still highlights the fact that the teams need to rely on Grael's flair for wind rather than pure speed. The data shows that ITA-74 is not overpowering, but probably designed for weaker wind conditions... the lesson learned from Black Magic.

The three bigs won their races, rather comfortably, so LR can still be in the hunt for group A, although they would have to beat one of the three leaders and Stars&Stripes in the second round robin. Nothing's impossible.