NYC

What unbelievable races today! A continually changing case of who’s in first (check out the first leg of Race 1). Big wind shifts, changing currents and then a lucky puff of wind propelled Emirates Team New Zealand to the finish line in Race 3 to win the NYC Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series regatta.  ETNZ now maintains its lead in the LVACWS with 52 points and an overall of 244. ORACLE Team USA placed second with 50 points and an overall of 236, followed by Groupama Team France (44), Softbank Japan (42), Land Rover BAR (42) and Artemis Racing (40).

ORACLE Team USA/photo Rob Tringali

Overall ETNZ is in 1st place, followed by ORACLE in 2nd and BAR in 3rd. An exciting day on the Hudson River waterfront in NYC.

Due to the elements, the Hudson was an unpredictable, challenging racecourse venue, and at the same time  beautifully situated against the Manhattan skyline. Over a hundred thousand spectators showed up over two days to witness the return of the America’s Cup racing to NYC after 96 years.

Fun highlights:

• Dramatically shifting winds and unpredictable conditions mirrored by Artemis Racing winning 1st and Groupama Team France finishing 6th in Race 1 and then in Race 2 Groupama finishes 1st and Artemis came in 6th.
• Key to success in Race 1 win for Artemis Racing may have been communication – seating the tactician (Ian Percy) next to the skipper according to Nathan Outteridge, “We were yelling at each other. Rather than shouting back and forth, we can sit next to each other and chat.”
• Race committee expected 20 knot winds and designed a nine leg course. Day 1 of racing and the winds did not even reach 5 knots. Day 1 of racing was canceled. Day 2 the winds were confused and just puffed up whenever and wherever they wanted. Race 1 on Day 2 took so long that the race committee cut the course almost in half – from 9 legs to 5 legs and then had to skew the whole race course around.

The day went on and the Kiwis still lead the LVACWS which will grace the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago –  another USA non-traditional venue – June 11 and 12. Stay tuned!

Groupama Team France wins Race 2 as the Statue looks on/Photo Rob Tringali

I rooted for France today as they had a major win that they have not seen in a very long time (Watch leg 1 of Race 2).  Of course they were pumped  – according to their tweet #FranckIsDriving #TeamSpirit. Franck Cammas, Skipper of Groupama Team France, returned to his team after a long rehabilitation from an accident that almost required his foot to be amputated. He steered his team into a first place win. Vive la France! More photos.

NYC – thousands turned out to watch the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series/Photo- Ricardo Pinto