TEAMORIGIN CNEV Regatta Day One Report

TEAMORIGIN win first ‘Cup' race in the CNEV regatta in Valencia and take 3^rd place in race two so share the overnight leaderboard with Alinghi who had a 3^rd and 1^st position.

The first start was delayed by one and a half hours due to lack of wind and the first race finally got underway at 1445 in 8 knots of breeze. The four boats approached the line on port tack with TEAMORIGIN winning the start with a great pin end position.

Desafio Español tacked off to the right side of the course and seemed to lose wind and pace out that side, Luna Rossa kept to the middle of the beat and TEAMORIGIN hugged the left hand side with Alinghi close at hand. TEAMORIGIN managed to pull ahead reaching the windward mark in first place, Alinghi in 2^nd, Luna Rossa in 3^rd and the Spanish in 4^th.

On the first downwind, TEAMORIGIN held off Alinghi who experienced their first ripped spinnaker of the day on their first gybe. The sail ripped along the leech tape which appeared to get caught on the jumper strut. TEAMORIGIN pulled ahead at the leeward mark rounding 1^st, Luna Rossa still in 3^rd place closing the gap to Alinghi slightly.

The 2^nd beat was light and shifty, TEAMORIGIN maintained cover but appeared to have to do a double tack near the top end of the beat which allowed Alinghi to close right up to them. TEAMORIGIN rounded in 1^st with Alinghi hot on their heels.

Alinghi spinnaker rip number two happened on the next gybe where the sail appeared to get caught yet again, a new spinnaker (now on number 3!) was hoisted quickly but Luna Rossa was closing in. On approaching the finish line, all 4 boats put up staysails and on the final gybe in to the mark, Alinghi spinnaker rip number 3 happened and Luna Rossa managed to overtake Alinghi to take 2^nd place. The Spanish also closed right in to take 4^th place.

Results race 1:

1^st TEAMORIGIN

2^nd Luna Rossa

3^rd Alinghi

4^th Desafio Español

Race two:

Race two started pretty quickly after end of race 1 with a very similar start line-up with TEAMORIGIN taking the leeward pin end, squeezing the Spanish out causing them to tack away. TEAMORIGIN and Alinghi stayed on left hand side of course on port. Alinghi looked higher and faster, and pulled out distance leading into the first windward mark with ease. Desafio Español, Luna Rossa and TEAMORIGIN were pretty close up the first beat, the Spanish rounded 2^nd, then TEAMORIGIN and finally Luna Rossa.

TEAMORIGIN stayed right without gybing for longer than the others and lost out on distance slightly. Alinghi stretched their 1^st place and lead comfortably at the leeward gate. TEAMORIGIN retained 3^rd position but with Luna Rossa hot on their heels, the only team to select the left hand gate mark.

The 2^nd beat saw the Spanish covering TEAMORIGIN and Luna Rossa so that pack of 3 stayed close together, all rounding the 2^nd windward mark in the same positions.

On the final downwind leg, Alinghi stayed ahead with the final positions remaining unchanged : 2^nd Desafio, 3^rd TEAMORIGIN and 4^th Luna Rossa.

Results race 2:

1^st Alinghi

2^nd Desafio Español

3^rd TEAMORIGIN

4^th Luna Rossa

Results after day one:

=1^st TEAMORIGIN

=1^st Alinghi

= 3^rd Luna Rossa

= 3^rd Desafio Español 

Racing resumes tomorrow, Saturday 8^th November, at 1300.