Given how utterly dominant INEOS was in the round-robin matches last month I'm stumped how they can be so far behind now. LR had the advantage of sailing a few more races against AM in the semi-finals, but could that really contribute to the speed they've unleashed?
I think think Prada spent their down time in improving the boat they way Ineos did,whereas Ineos maybe rested on their laurels , felt all was good with the boat and perhaps felt overconfident, regardless, the performance of Ineos is really poor right now and I think the mountain is just too steep for them to climb, too bad as it might have been a real exciting contest especially that last race.
I don't see any AC syndicate resting on their laurels. I guess it could happen but these folks are not that type. They are pushing for more all of the time. INEOS is not starting well, they don't have the boat speed or pointing ability. Fractional difference to be sure. But, Spithill and the boys are just starting and sailing flawless match racing as far as I can tell. INEOS has to improve somehow or hope for errors by LRPP. I hope for good starts and clean racing and may the best team win. Either way the Kiwis are waiting in the wings, think they are resting?
Ineos are a great one for strarting badly, they can make your belly juices wiggle until the last moment.
The Brits got done on the start again in Race 5 and then had to do 2 penalties. Race 6 was smarter against Luna Rossa, where they got better position on the better side of the course. Now it's 5-1. Game on.
Both teams went with the smaller jib, thinking the wind would build. In fact the breeze dropped. Luna Rossa just flew away, so much faster in light winds. If you're good for boat speed in those conditions, you've won. Next race is the killer.
I still have some game in this. Shannon Falcone, Luna Rossa's trimmer, used to play in our garden. Shannon, when his Mum and Dad came to our house, used play on my Honda 900 and go 'Broom Broom' on the bars. Now he's going 'Broom Broom' on a big AC racer. I know which is cooler.
Day 1 of the AC Match starts tonight (today/tomorrow... time zones, whatever) is about 20 minutes. Not conveniently scheduled for those of us that have to go to work in the morning.
I get up every morning to watch the races live. Thats 4am here... BUT: as exciting the boats are, the races are kind of boring as soon as they crossed the starting line. 100% trained perfectionists, no mistakes, and no passings. Whoever wins the start will win the race. Boats are so close in all conditions, there is no room for "better sailing". And if the boats are not soooo close (like INEOS and Luna), there are no surprises either...
I kind of agree, but on the other hand that necessity for 100% perfection is a knife edge... one mistake, even a tiny one, costs hundreds of meters (Day 1, Race 2, rounding the first mark, for example). As good as these guys are, they aren't infallible. American Magic showed it, and INEOS almost did the same thing in the Prada Cup finals.
Is it down to one tiny mistake then? If so, this is not my kind of racing. The hole shot is the thing in this race and the skippers are going to win on that. We may see more drama at the start, so far very safe, even Jimmy’s “luff” attempt was weak, I expect to see more aggressive starts.
Very light winds forecast for today's races... start may even be delayed. Could be really interesting racing if anyone drops their hull off foil.