Cup: Act12 results after 2 days

The final competition of the 2006 America’s Cup season began with two full flights of racing in Valencia. Louis Vuitton Act 12 is a match racing regatta, complete with round robin, semi finals and final. In this sense, it mimics the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series, which will identify the ultimate challenger to face Alinghi in the 32nd America’s Cup Match.

It was a tense day on the water for the Spanish team who are alone among the 12 competitors in racing a new boat, ESP 88. Desafío Español earned two wins from two starts, but was behind in the second race until the Umpires assessed three penalties to Areva Challenge for a flagrant foul. The jury is still out on the speed potential of the new boat.

Making his 2006 racing debut for Luna Rossa Challenge was Torben Grael, aboard as tactician. The ‘Brazilian magician’ lived up to his moniker early as Luna Rossa was able to throw two penalties onto Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia during the first pre-start; Grael showing no signs of fatigue after completing a round-the-world race just this past weekend.

Conditions were perfect for racing on Thursday with sunny skies generating a good sea breeze. By race time there was a 10 knot Easterly on the two race areas and this held for the two flights of racing.

Current standing after 2 days/ 2 fligts:

1 SUI 75 4
1 USA 87 4
1 NZL 84 4
1 ITA 86 4
5 ESP 88 2
5 ITA 77 2
7 ITA 59 1
7 RSA 83 1
7 FRA 60 1
7 SWE 63 1
11 GER 72 0
11 CHN 79 0

See the results of the 2 flights