Artemis Racing hits semi-final spot after beating Aleph: 2011 America’s Cup World Series, San Diego
Energy Team, Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Racing Spithill grabbed the top three podiums in the fleet races to formulate the seeding list and surge into the semi-final stage. The rest of the fleet had to sail in five qualifying rounds to ensure that
one team competes along with these three in the penultimate stage of the series.
Sweden’s Artemis Racing managed to hit the jackpot with impressive sailing during the qualifiers, as they finally raced against France’s Aleph sailing team in fifth and final qualifying round to earn a spot in semi-finals. The Swedish team performed impressively
against the French sailors and defeated them to set up a semi-final clash with fleet race leader, Energy Team, at the end of Day 2 on San Diego Bay waters.
The Qualifying matches results in San Diego Match Racing Championship are as follows:
Q1. Aleph beat China Team
Q2. ORACLE Racing Coutts beat Green Comm Racing
Q3. Aleph beat Team Korea
Q4. Aleph beat ORACLE Racing Coutts
Q5. Artemis Racing beat Aleph
Semi-final fixtures are below:
SF1. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. ORACLE Racing Spithill
SF2. Energy Team vs. Artemis Racing
Artemis Racing skipper, Terry Hutchinson, is quite satisfied with his team’s performance in the qualifiers and hopes they will do their best to reach the finals of 2011 America’s Cup World Series. They will race against the winner of Emirates Team New Zealand
and Oracle Racing Spithill semi-final race.
Speaking to reporters after racing, Hutchinson said, “It was never over, until it was over. It was dicey out there… We had to hang tough. It's a testament to the team that we were able to get through. We did a good job in both starts, had a nice lead, but
it really didn't count for much. You don't always get dealt a good hand.”
Weather conditions around San Diego Bay on Day 2 were moderate in the start of the day, as a thick fog covered the race course but after a while, it vanished to allow a low 7 to 10 knots sea breeze fill in. The fog enveloped the area again by early afternoon
and dropped the temperature to maintain a light and shifty wind.
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