Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai: Press Releases
Finals - Regatta Day 14


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Day 14:
ETNZ Beats BMW Oracle to Win Louis Vuitton Dubai

November 27, 2010

 

Photo:©2010 Chris Cameron/ETNZ
Dean Barker receives congratulations from BMW Oracle after winning the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai, by a score of 2-0 over the 2013 Cup Defender.
 


On this page, LVT Dubai Finals/Day 14 Statements:
Louis Vuitton Trophy: ETNZ Wins Final Match of LVT Dubail
Emirates Team New Zealand: ETNZ Beats America's Defender BMW Oracle
BMW Oracle Racing: Reaches Final of LVT Dubai
Also: See more photos at Official Event Site and watch live video at SailTV



ETNZ Wins Final Match of Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai

   

 

Racing in its second home, Emirates Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai today, defeating the USA's BMW Oracle Racing in two straight races. 

Today’s victory concluded an incredible performance by the team from Auckland, New Zealand, which over two years won four of five Louis Vuitton Trophy events and finished second in the other. 

Adding extra luster to their performance, Dean Barker and his Kiwi team came from behind to win their last four races in Dubai, including the two today against BMW Oracle Racing, the outstanding performer during two weeks of match racing off the Dubai International Marine Club. 

Today also saw the announcement that Louis Vuitton Malletier will continue its sponsorship of the America’s Cup and challengers for the Cup. 

“We are thrilled to announce today the continuation of our 30-year partnership with the America’s Cup.  Having met with the organizing team several times, we believe that the 34th edition will be the best America’s Cup yet,” said Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier. 

The finish gun today signaled the end of 20 years of competition in the America’s Cup, Louis Vuitton Cup and Louis Vuitton Trophy for the International America’s Cup Class.  Introduced 20 years ago, the boats competed in five America’s Cup events. 

Serenaded by boat horns and sirens the Kiwi crew were hugging, cheering and hi-fiving for a minute and a half before the American boat finished. 

As Yves Carcelle boarded their boat with the obligatory celebratory magnums and jeroboams of Moët & Chandon champagne, the New Zealanders hoisted a giant national ensign in their foretriangle. 

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks,” said Grant Dalton, the managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand who also races on the boat, his normally serious face split by a huge smile. 

“We kinda saved our best ‘til last.  Oracle have been the form boat for the whole regatta.  We came out today with determination knowing that on our day we are good enough but we would really need to produce.  The guys in the back of the boat did a real nice job today.  The Oracle guys are a class act and they sailed really well. 

“It was shifty today.  Both times we got the side we wanted and bless me, it went the other way.  It happens a bit that way.  We launched in that first race straight into a great big right shift.  It wasn’t our intention.  But we never let go.  It’s a hallmark of this side.  ”

Asked about the secret to his team’s success, Dalton said: “It’s a team that lives on the smell of an oily rag.  Everyone buys into the culture and the way we operate.  We’re not frivolous at all.  You can’t spend a hundred dollars without a requisition order for me.  And in a funny sort of way that helps to build our culture. 

“We’re proud that we represent New Zealand and we’re good mates.  We’ve built that over the years.  It takes a long time to get those combinations.  It’s jelling for us now.  In the new era if we can hold onto that culture and we will and we can, we can take it into our new projects.  ”

James Spithill said:  “We’re obviously disappointed.  Ripping a spinnaker and having a problem when it didn’t hoist, helped put us on the back foot.  But full credit to Team New Zealand.  They did a good job and all we can do is take our hats off to them.  ”

Race One, Emirates Team New Zealand def BMW Oracle Racing, 00:17 –
New Zealand’s Dean Barker landed the opening punch in his race with James Spithill.  Just over two minutes before the start, with both boats almost stalled in a dialup, Barker turned sharply away.  The Kiwi boat’s stern struck the side of the BMWOR boat.  Spithill was penalized for failing to keep clear.  The American boat went up the right side of the course, shutting out New Zealand attacks until the weather mark where Barker turned inside and drew almost level.  The Kiwis kept the pressure on all the way down the run but made a slow mark rounding with their spinnaker momentarily in the water.  On the beat, New Zealand went out to the port layline while the Americans worked the shifts up the middle of the course.  With a 150 metre lead, Spithill unwound his penalty but left the door open for Barker to again get inside at the top mark and claim the right side of the course on the run to the finish.  The Americans had it won until the Kiwis gybed into a shift and more pressure to overtake and win. 

Race Two, Emirates Team New Zealand def BMW Oracle Racing, 01:37 – The Kiwis claimed the pin end of the start and had a small lead up most of the course but Oracle enjoyed the benefit of the right side and overtook to lead by 11 seconds at the top mark.  However, they lost ground when their spinnaker was stuck in the hatch for vital seconds during the hoist.  Barker was able to get right on the run and stalked the Americans, helped further when they had to shed a ripped spinnaker in a gybe peel.  With better pressure on the right, Barker kept closing on the run and crossed clear ahead on port tack just before the leeward mark.  New Zealand covered their opponent and worked the shifts for the next two legs to finish 350 meters in front.  Their victory confirmed Emirates Team New Zealand as the winners of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai. 

The Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the principal sponsor of the event. 

-- From Louis Vuitton Trophy

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Emirates Team New Zealand Wins Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai


Photo: ©2010 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing
Goodbye to one era, hello to the next! And welcome back Louis Vuitton! America's Cup Class yachts bow out after 20 years of Cup racing. New America's Cup Multihulls debut soon.

Emirates Team New Zealand has taken the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai with a 2-nil won over America’s Cup holders BMW Oracle.

The win – the fourth of the five LV events held since February 2009 –caps a successful 2010 for the team, having previously won at Auckland and La Maddalena and also taking the MedCup season championship.

The Dubai regatta brings to an end the era of the IACC class yachts that have raced America’s C up regattas for 20 years.

The 34th America’s Cup which will be raced in 2013 in a new class of 72ft catamarans.

Conditions at Dubai today were tricky and afterguards were tested as they the coped with shifts of 30-40 deg and marked changes in wind velocity.  The day started with BMW Oracle as favorites – being the form team at Dubai.

Emirates Team New Zealand stormed from behind in a windshift and better pressure to snatch a win the first final match. Suddenly the odds and opinion, shifted in New Zealand’s favor.

Honors in this race were remarkably even. Barker forced a penalty on Oracle in the pre-start; Oracle got a lift in the right on the second beat and extended to six boat lengths and did the penalty turn right on the top mark.

Dean Barker charged on the run, gained overlap and rounded the mark first. Oracle wriggled out of trouble and extended down the run home. Separation was large and while Oracle’s lead increased in the left, New Zealand strategist Adam Beashel and tactician Ray Davies had faith in the right and waited for the shift they had seen coming.

Just as the smart money was writing off Emirates Team New Zealand and calling a BMW Oracle win. Barker’s charge began, reeling in the opposition at an astonishing rate. There was no stopping New Zealand, overtaking Oracle and finishing 17s ahead.

That’s a healthy delta at this Dubai regatta and rather belies the closeness of the racing. Oracle led by 9s around the first mark, the second mark by 10. Emirates Team New Zealand led by 4s at the third.

The fickle breeze certainly called the shots for the entire race and New Zealand clearly benefitted from the shift that counted – the last one.

In race 2 the breeze was master of the first beat. Again racing was even, with Oracle rounding the first mark 11s in front.  Oracle’s spinnaker was torn in the hoist; they peeled and maintained a slim lead as the yachts separated and Emirates Team New Zealand started to build a small advantage.

Dean Barker set up for the left side of the leeward gate, forcing Oracle to take the right. The margin was 28s to New Zealand. After rounding New Zealand extended and was never threatened. The margin at mark 3 was 56s and at the finish 1m37s.

--From Emirates Team New Zealand

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BMW Oracle Racing Reaches LVT Dubai Final



Photo: ©2010 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing
 ETNZ staying ahead of BMW Oracle on the way to a LVT Dubai Finals Victory, Saturday.
 

BMW Oracle Racing fell short of its goal of winning the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai, the final regatta for the America’s Cup Class, when Emirates Team New Zealand scored a 2-0 victory in the final.

BMW Oracle Racing led at the first windward mark in both races, but succumbed to uncharacteristic mishaps in crew work that their strong rival capitalized on.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” said James Spithill, the 31-year-old skipper from Australia.  “We had our opportunities in both races, but they beat us fair and square.  The results stand and we’ve got to congratulate them.  They’re a strong team and sailed a good regatta.”

BMW Oracle Racing lost the first race by 17 seconds in the final 100 meters approaching the finish line.

BMW Oracle Racing had taken a penalty turn for a pre-start infraction on the second upwind leg and led by about two boatlengths when the two crews jibed towards the finish from opposite sides of the racecourse.

The Kiwi crew jibed into a patch of wind that allowed them to sail a more direct course to the finish and score the come-from-behind victory.

In the second race BMW Oracle Racing led by 11 seconds at the windward mark, but the spinnaker ripped during the set when it caught on the ladder going belowdecks.  The crew had to change sails and Emirates Team New Zealand sailed into the lead.

“That put us on the back foot,” Spithill said of the torn spinnaker.  “It was a frustrating day.  The conditions were tough, very light.  I think both teams were expecting more breeze, but it’s the same for everyone and they were able to get it done today.”

Tactician John Kostecki of the U.S.  described the conditions as between 6 and 9 knots with shifts up to 40 degrees.

“It was a light-air day and real tricky,” said Kostecki.  “Pressure was the key; a little pressure goes a long way.  It was the first time in this series that we were passed from behind and it happened two races in a row.  It was their day today, but it was a tough day for us.”


Photo: ©2010 Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW Oracle Racing
Saying farewell from Dubai.
 

--From BMW Oracle

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Links of Interest:

Louis Vuitton Trophy: Official Web Site
 


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