Artemis Racing crashes with Emirates Team New Zealand on Day 2 of 2011 America’s Cup World Series
Sweden’s Artemis Racing tumbled down to number three at the end of Day 2 of America’s Cup World Series after they had to pull out of the race due to an accident. Artemis Racing collided with the ACWS standings leader, Emirates Team New Zealand and broke
their own boat's wing. The skipper of Artemis Racing, Terry Hutchinson had to call off the race immediately.
The Swedish team sailed convincingly during the race and completed the first tack but at the time of completing the second one, they somehow made contact with Emirates Team New Zealand. Their bowsprit touched New Zealnad Team’s transom and the runner hit
the trailing edge resulting in severe damage to the Swedish boat’s wings.
While speaking to the local media at the end of Day 2, Swedish team tactician Iain Percy said, “It was very fun – especially the speed and the boat handling. It was very windy today, but it was all still fair racing. I think everyone has a scary moment.
Unfortunately, we made some mistakes that cost us the race.”
He further added, “I have always also liked the fact that in sailing there is a point that the harder you work the faster you go. I think that is a really important part of it. Push yourself to the absolute max and the boat is going to go faster,' added
the three time Olympian.”
The accident can safely be attributed to the high speed winds blowing across the race site as winds with gusts of upto 40 knots added a real challenge for the sailors to manage their boats. The race committee, under these conditions, could only give a green
signal to one race which was won by America’s Oracel Racing Spithill.
The overall standings at the end of Day 2 are given below:
1. NZL Emirates Team New Zealand, Dean Barker 10, 8, 10, 9 = 37 points
2. USA ORACLE Racing Spithill, James Spithill 9, 10, 7, 10 = 36 points
3. SWE Artemis Racing, Terry Hutchinson 8, 9, 9, 3 = 29 points
4. USA ORACLE Racing Coutts, Russell Coutts 3, 7, 8, 8 = 26 points
5. CHN China Team, Charlie Ogletree 5, 6, 5, 6 = 22 points
6. FRA Aleph, Bertrand Pace 7, 4, 6, 3 = 20 points
7. FRA Energy Team, Loick Peyron 3, 5, 4, 7 = 19 points
8. KOR Team Korea, Chris Draper 6, 3, 3, 5 = 17 points
9. ESP Green Comm Racing, Vasilij Zbogar 4, 3, 3, 3 = 13 points
Tags: