Sport | Sailing
Emirates Team New Zealand still going strong
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 14, 2010
Dubai : Emirates Team New Zealand continued its fine run, this time accounting for All4One on the fifth day of sailing at the Louis Vuitton Trophy being held in Auckland.
With the wind forcing the cancellation of sailing on Friday, it was brisk breezes and high-pressure competition that happened to deliver a basket of surprises and some painful losses on the fourth day of competition.
In the second race, a collision between Britain's Teamorigin and the French team Aleph earned the French boat a penalty, plus the loss of a point. Then in the third race, Sweden's Artemis conceded a healthy lead over Italy's Azzurra when the spinnaker pole went over the side and they went trawling with the spinnaker. With three days remaining in the round robin, it is hosts Emirates Team New Zealand boasting a perfect record following a convincing victory over the German/French boat All4One.
Azzurra, the young Italian team that won the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice is in second place with a 3-1 score and today's match between the two will decide on a lot of things to follow before the final is held on March 21.
Stiff competition
But Emirates Team New Zealand and Azzurra can expect some stiff competition for the top position as another four teams are placed in equal third with two wins and two losses, namely All4One, Artemis, Mascalzone Latino Audi (Italy) and Teamorigin. With conditions on the Waitemata Harbour perfect for racing, it was Emirates Team New Zealand earning their fourth point from as many races with a narrow 26-second win over All4One.
Provisional leaderboard after Flight Four: 1. Emirates Team New Zealand (4 pts); 2. Azzurra (3); =3. All4One (2); =3. Artemis (2); =3. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team (2); =3. Teamorigin (2); 7. Aleph Sailing Team (0) (penalty point deducted); 8. Synergy Russian Sailing Team (0).
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