Alinghi wins Challenger Final of Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

12:00 AM Thu 12 Feb 2009 GMT

Race 1 - Second & Final Race, Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Challenger Finals: Alinghi beat BMW Oracle Racing - 1:07s

Switzerland triumphed in a face-off between America's Cup winners Ed Baird and Russell Coutts this morning. The race was sailed in a northerly breeze of 15-18kts with the course located adjacent to North Head on the inner Waitemata.

Having won the first race of a shortened Challenger Final yesterday, after a very basic error by BMW Oracle while holding a comfotable lead, Alinghi only had to win one race today to progress to the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Final against Emirates Team NZ.

Steering Switzerland's Alinghi, Baird slammed the gate on Coutts on the start line to start at speed as the gun sounded. Coutts could only follow slowly dead astern in his opponents wake. The American boat was trailing by 40 metres just moments after the start and never threatened Alinghi as the margin opened out to 58 seconds at the second weather mark and over a minute at the finish. Oracle enjoyed the advantage of the right hand entry at the five minute gun and engaged Alinghi in a couple of tight circles, the boats only metres apart. With 1:30 remaining, both boats were lining up for the start inside the starboard layline with Oracle astern and to weather. As they approached the line Baird remained on starboard but pointed his bow straight at the committee boat. Coutts had nowhere to go and went head to wind as Baird bore off at speed right close to the committee boat. With a 2-0 record, Alinghi wins the Challenger Finals. Alinghi finished flying a red flag to protest the format for the seven-race Louis Vuitton Pacific Series final which starts tomorrow. The protest hearing will be held today as soon as the boats get ashore.
Deltas

Mark 1 - 0:30 - Alinghi
Mark 2 - 0:41 - Alinghi
Mark 3 - 0:59 - Alinghi
Finish - 1:07 - Alinghi

Pre-Race Report 0930 hours NZ Time
With an approaching low and its associated cold front approaching Auckland today, the northerly breeze was fresh this morning. The forecast calls for heavy air this afternoon so the Race Committee is starting racing an hour earlier.
Today Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing will continue their three-race regatta for the Challenger Finals of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Alinghi won the first race yesterday and Oracle must win the first race today to stay alive.

by Keith Taylor and Sail-World

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Alinghi wins Challenger Final of Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

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