NZ will line up with eyes opened
Jilliby Litsa out to assert her class in 520m race tonight
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Team New Zealand’s debrief after the first day of the America’s Cup Match . . .
While the 1-1 result is a fair reflection of the sailing on Wednesday and the Kiwis won’t be panicking or be even too worried just yet, there would have been a few areas of concern — especially the way they were outsailed in the second race due to fundamental mistakes they made at key moments.
A lot has been said about Team New Zealand’s speed edge and how it wasn’t as significant as expected — at least not in the lighter breeze we had on day one — and while this might be true, no boat in the world will win you races if you don’t sail it well.
I was keen to see how much these teams would have improved after plenty of time off the water and, on Wednesday’s evidence, it’s clear that Luna Rossa have kept up the gains while Team NZ seemingly haven’t added much since we last saw them at Christmas.
As solid as Peter Burling was in the first race, he was outsmarted in the pre-start by Jimmy Spithill in the second . You can’t expect to win
races if you start that badly. You are immediately a couple of boat lengths behind — and that could be race over.
The course management during that second race was also really poor. Most of the upwind legs the Kiwis sailed in the gas of Luna Rossa and never got a chance to separate much for that leverage required to make the most of the bit of speed they have over the Italians.
They seemed to be losing many of the tacks, while passing on these narrow courses is extremely hard to do.
On the flip side, Burling held his nerve and kept his wits in the first race when Spithill came out swinging and tried to force an early penalty. The Kiwis were in a compromised position but muscled their way to the boundary and then
sailed around Luna Rossa.
I still think they are faster than the challenger and it’s a matter of refining things — quickly.
These guys know the game plan, they look quick downwind and they would have learnt a lot from the first exchanges.
I expect Team NZ to lose a few more races — especially if sailing goes ahead today and tomorrow with winds predicted at the very lowest end.
They are playing catchup and time will soon start running out.
The Kiwis’eyes will be wide open when they line up next.
They dare not blink first again.
The Secret Sailor is an internationally acclaimed yachtie with a strong history
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Jilliby Litsa certainly made amends for her prior 520m miss when the greyhound dashed to her effortless 29.74s 520m victory last Friday. The Lisa Cole-prepared chaser was in cruise control throughout, and she is poised to serve up a repeat dose in this evening’s open-class 520m event (race 9) from the four trap.
Kennelmate Big Time Maple was valiant when chasing home the freewheeling pacemaker, finishing two lengths astern of her. Another competitive effort can be expected from her handy two-trap draw.
This season’s Wanganui Cup winner Big Time Lantao is returning to Hatrick after her recent Cambridge and Manawatu 457m outings. She didn’t receive any favours in those assignments, and she is likely to appreciate her return to racing here from trap three.
Securing the draw advantage via the one trap here is Big Time Frankie and he is likely to race along the rail seeking to capitalise on any mistakes others may make.
Two open-class 305m sprints are on this evening’s card, the first of them (race 5) featuring the resilient Cole-trained sprinter Trojan Hoarse.
He treated his younger rivals with utter contempt when he dashed clear to record his 64th career win last Friday. He completed his 305m task in 17.30s and only bad racing luck from trap four will prevent him from adding to his tidy $228,013 in earnings.
Again, it is his kennelmates who are poised to offer the greatest challenge including Big Time Jonie who wound up 31⁄2 lengths behind Trojan Hoarse last week in third. He will hop away from the three trap here.
A competitive sprint can be expected from the trap one-drawn Big Time Fuzz, while Big Time Frosty led all the way when landing her Monday 23.32s Manawatu 410m win.
It is a much more even lineup in the other top grade 305m dash (race 11) where the vice-like grip that the Cole kennels holds in these races could be interrupted.
Wifi Bolt won’t object about the six-trap draw he has been allocated here. He is generally sighted racing in the middle of the track for his trainers Gary and Sandra Fredrickson.
Local conditioner Melisa Olden has her charge, Criminal Justise, ticking over sweetly at the moment and she can overcome her poor five-trap draw in this dash.
Two Cole-trained runners bookend this field with Bigtime Puma (one) and Big Time Gwyn (eight) both capable of featuring here.