• Match 1 OneWorld USA 67 wins against Orn SWE 63 (59")

OneWorld, the Seattle based challenger, remains undefeated after winning its fifth consecutive race. Following a two hour delay to allow winds to build, today’s race versus Sweden’s Victory Challenge was sailed in near perfect conditions with sunny skies and 13-18 knots of wind from the south. 

Following two days of cancelled races due to light winds, with James Spithill at the helm of USA 67 and Jesper Bank at the helm of SWE 63, the pair had a close start with OneWorld claiming the right side of the starting line crossing one second behind SWE 63. On the first beat, USA 67 capitalized on the wind shifts and lengthened their lead by close to eight boat lengths at the first mark. OneWorld covered the opponents throughout the remaining legs and crossed the finish line 59 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Victory Challenge.

 Peter Gilmour - OneWorld : "Our weather team did a tremendous job and called a right shift which occurred just after the start. We tacked on the shift and it gave us room to move ahead. Victory Challenge sailed consistently well, it was hard work for the team to maintain the lead."

Source OneWorld Challenge

• Match 2 Luna Rossa ITA 74 wins against Wight Lightning GBR 70 (22")

With a good Southerly breeze of 14 knots the Race Committee fires the starting gun for Luna Rossa at 14:20. The boats cross the starting line fairly separated with GBR on the right side on port tack and Luna Rossa, with Rod Davis helming, at the pin end on starboard. After a wind shift to the left, Luna Rossa looks good on the left side of the course with a 50 meter advantage over GBR who instead goes for the far right side of the course.

After a close beat towards the mark, Luna Rossa, sailing with a good speed and slightly over the lay-line, manages to squeeze by seconds ahead of GBR, rounding the mark 5 seconds ahead.

During the first downwind leg ITA 74 consolidates her lead and rounds the first downwind mark with an advantage of 14 seconds over GBR Challenge. The breeze is up to 17 knots and the two boats separate again in the top half of the second beat, with the Italians leading by 2 boats lengths. At the third mark Luna Rossa is leading GBR Challenge by 31 seconds.

The breeze is steady now and Luna Rossa is firmly in the lead in the second spinnaker run, about 150 meters ahead of the English boat. At the mark rounding the advantage for Luna Rossa is now 36 seconds. In the last beat Luna Rossa keeps a comfortable lead over GBR, rounding the last mark with a 33 seconds advantage over GBR 70. During the last run downwind GBR 70 gains 11 seconds over Luna Rossa ITA 74 but Francesco de Angelis defends his position and goes to win this race with an advantage of 22 seconds. GBR 70 is flying the red protest flag. The English are protesting ITA 74 for a technical matter. We will send out more details after tonight’s press conference.

Source Prada Luna Rossa

• Match 3 Alinghi SUI 64 wins against Stars&Stripes USA 66 (1’10")

Ken Read, from Newport, RI, skippering the New York Yacht Club’s challenger, stayed close and pressed Alinghi, the Swiss challenger skippered by Russell Coutts, hard with 13 tacks on the first leg after Stars & Stripes crossed the start line 11 seconds after her opponent.

Both boats were late for the start, completing two down-speed tacks after the gun, after Read pressed in vain for an advantage.

Alinghi skipper Kiwi Russell Coutts, who three years ago successfully headed New Zealand’s defense of the Cup, protected the right-hand side of the course with its starboard tack right-of-wayadvantage and in the second half of the first leg consolidated his lead in the 16 to 18-knot southerly.

 Peter Isler - Stars and Stripes : "It was a key moment in the race when they were able to get the jump on us off the starting line. Those guys are good. They handle their boat well... We had a team meeting on the way in tonight and despite losing four races in a row, our team spirits are very high. There is plenty of optimism. We are working through some tough times right now, and paying the price to learn a few lessons, but we’re confident that we’re going to pick up momentum pretty quickly here."

Source Team Dennis Conner

• Match 4 Oracle BMW Racing USA 76 wins against Le Defi FRA 69 (2’52")

New defeat for the french team. And to had to this strong loss, the yellow boats will sail in the next match the other top american challenger, OneWorld...

the race did start after two hour waiting for the wind. Oracle BMW Racing easily won the start after a dial-up of 4 moinutes. If Areva IACC boat is able to take the lead few times in the first part of the first beat, the american challenger rounds the first buoy ahead with alreaday one minute lead. In the downwind leg, the yellow boat comes back to the black one but let USA 76 sail away in the last legs to take an easy win in her fourth match.

Source Le Défi