Team NZ dramatic capsize
Team New Zealand endured a dramatic introduction to racing on Lake Michigan yesterday, with two crew members sent flying after their AC45 capsized during a practice race against defender Oracle Team USA.
No-one was injured and once upright again, Team NZ rejoined the competition for the final fleet race of the day where they beat main rivals Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR.
With temperatures reaching 30 degrees and an average wind speed of around 14 knots, the puffy conditions which varied from 5 to 20 knots set the stage for some of the best action the World Series has seen.
‘‘We certainly needed the practice day,’’ said skipper Glenn Ashby. "We haven’t sailed together since New York and it was certainly a baptism of fire here in Chicago, but we weren’t the only ones a bit wobbly getting around the track. There were plenty of boats having difficulty today.’’
Ashby was referring to Oracle, who also capsized in the final race of the day.
The day’s schedule consisted of two practice fleet races, a match race and a ‘spare’ fleet race which will be kept in reserve in case the full race schedule does not get finished on Sunday.
There were constant position changes and the differences in gains or losses were down to the smallest mistake or the difference in pressure on course.
‘‘What we saw today, and now know for the weekend, is that no matter how comfortable ahead you are or how far back you fall you can be in the complete opposite position within seconds’’ tactician Ray Davies said.
The real drama of the day was in the match race.
Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling showed his class in getting the better of veteran James Spithill in the pre-start and leading Oracle around the first mark. They maintained their lead until the final rounding mark where the Team New Zealand boat tipped over in front of the Navy Pier crowd.
‘‘We had a little bit of a rudder ventilation going into the turn and two of our guys got ejected off the boat. I didn’t quite make it to the tiller in time and we rolled the boat on its side,’’ Ashby said. ‘‘Luckily no-one was hurt.’’
Helmsman Burling added, ‘‘you have to push hard and certainly against Oracle you don’t want to take your foot off the accelerator so these things can happen especially in great breeze like we have today.
‘‘It’s all part of the learning, it’s what training days are for, so we will check the boat tonight and get it back in the water and be ready for racing tomorrow.’’ slightest the race