Emirates Team New Zealand won one and lost one on the final day of Act 10 of the America’s Cup pre-regattas.

Alinghi’s SUI 75 lost to NZL 84 in the final race. In the first race of the day a torn spinnaker near the first downwind mark cost NZL 84 a possible win in its match against Luna Rossa (ITA 86).

Today’s breeze was similar to previous days – light 8-9 knots from the east but swinging through about 20 degrees, keeping the afterguard, with breeze spotter Adam Beashel up the rig, on their toes. It was another day for clear heads and conservative sailing.

Grant Dalton said: “All today’s racing demonstrates is that no one is unbeatable in this competition. We didn’t come here expecting to win every match. We’re also here to look and learn. I would be disappointed after a loss if we had learned nothing. It’s all part of the building process to 2007.”

The match between NZL 84 and ITA 86 was even at the start, both boats crossing the line at the same time, but quickly NZL 84 got a slight edge which they fought to keep, tacking 15 times on top of ITA 86 forcing them to tack away to clear their air.

NZL 84 kept the control, even when Luna Rossa tried to pass right on the mark by going between the yacht and the mark. A penalty call by NZL 84 was dismissed by the umpires. A delta for NZL 84 at the first mark was 13 seconds. Both spinnakers opened at the same time heralding first a tactical and then an aggressive run.

ITA 86 engaged NZL 84 in a slow luff that NZL 84 answered pointing her bow to the wind when the red spinnaker of NZL 84 exploded to ruin any Emirates Team New Zealand hopes of winning this match. The Italians seized the opportunity to take the lead, rounding the mark 10 seconds ahead, a delta that was reduced by NZL 84 to 6 sec at the next windward mark.

The last run was the opportunity for NZL 84 to bustle the Italians into an error, but, aware this was likely, the Italians kept well away and crossed the line 1min 8 sec ahead after NZL 84 had completed its penalty turn.

Grant Dalton said: “We had already beaten off one attack on the run. There was every chance we would have beaten off the other if the spinnaker had not ripped.

“That torn spinnaker also cost us a penalty, incurred when the sail touched Luna Rossa. So in a match that was going to be tight to the end, that was unachievable.”

The penalty was awarded because, as the rule book says, we failed to keep clear of the leeward boat, in this case the sail touching them. To clear the penalty a yacht must turn through a 360 degree turn which takes about 30 seconds.

“It could be argued that without the rip in the spinnaker, there would not have been a penalty, we could have emerged from the luffing encounter with Luna Rossa still in the lead. We’ll never know.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Luna Rossa. They sailed a good race and gave us a really hard time when we led from the start. There was nothing in it and the race could have gone either way.”

The second match of the day was expected to be a battle to the finish. And that’s how it happened.

The start was even. NZL 84 took the right and SUI 75 took an early lead on the left of the course. The margin was slim and when NZL 84 crossed behind Alinghi and took the left, she slowly opened a lead which translated to 15 seconds at the first mark.

By the first leeward mark the margin had extended to 22 sec, not giving NZL 84 much comfort, but still something that could be confidently defended.

The defence was fierce and the attacks constant but NZL 84 made it to the finish with a 21 sec margin.

Dalton said the team always had Alinghi in its sights as a must-win match. “We needed a win for our own satisfaction. Alinghi is sailing a well tried boat that has been refined to the point almost of perfection. The crew is a polished act. We still have a lot of development work to do on our current design concepts.

“We think NZL 84 has good potential. Now we await with interest the debut of Alinghi’s new boat in Act 12.”

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