Of Wind Shifts and Windward Speed

The second day of quarter-finals provided confirmation of previous data. Alinghi and Oracle are the superior boats due to windward speed.

Torben Grael (or bad execution on Rod Davis' part), facing Coutts in his native waters, also lost the battle in choosing the correct starting position. From an even start, Alinghi had the better position to take advantage of wind conditions. This is the other advantage New Zealanders have: the wind shifts of Hauraki Bay is probably programmed into their DNA...

The wind shifts are so great that Oracle, going neck-and-neck against oneWorld, managed to pull into a 30 second lead in barely 4 minutes of sailing! This advantage acquired at lightning speed was so great they had the luxury of allowing themselves the breakage of their spinnaker pole and not losing the race.

The data is clear: Luna Rossa has to improve windward (Alinghi is more often close hauled) and keep their leeward advantage. But this will probably not occur during this round.

Times at Markers
Start	Alinghi 00:00
Windward 1	Alinghi 00:17
Leeward 1	Alinghi 00:09
Windward 2	Alinghi 00:39
Leeward 2	Alinghi 00:13
Windward 3	Alinghi 00:37
Finish	Alinghi 00:08