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Alinghi Red Bull Racing Faces Challenges on Day 3 at Preliminary Regatta Barcelona
22-25 August 2024
It was an intense day of competition for Alinghi Red Bull Racing with two races, first against the Challenger of Record and later the Defenders. With no wins in the third day of the Preliminary Regatta, the Swiss team is still looking to show their full potential on the racetrack.
In Match 1 of the day, an extremely close start led to an intense drag race between the Swiss and British teams on the first leg. After Britannia crossed behind, BoatOne kept up the pressure, but the British rounded the top mark slightly ahead and managed to maintain their lead until the finish.
Race 2 for Alinghi Red Bull Racing, 80 minutes later, saw an aggressive pre-start from New Zealand, which the Swiss team managed to hold off. After the teams split early, the Kiwis had an advantage for the first crossing, forcing BoatOne to tack away for clean air. As the wind dropped to 7 knots, the New Zealand boat broke away to secure a comfortable victory, maintaining their unblemished record in the regatta thus far.
With just one day remaining in the Preliminary Regatta, the Swiss team is set to face off against the Italians for their final match before the Grand Final race between the top two ranked teams.
Arnaud Psarofaghis, Skipper: “Against both teams we knew more or less their game plans, and we could adjust our pre-start sequence accordingly. The wind was a bit up and down, which made for some interesting choices. We should have probably been more aggressive and attacked back to put more pressure on them. The race was more about trying to chase them, and it will be very interesting for us to review it later.”
Thery Schir, Cyclor: “To recover between races, we just tried to stay in the shade, hydrate properly, grab some food, and refuel before the second one. The second race against the Kiwis was more intense and demanding in terms of effort. As a cyclor crew, we’re working super well together, and there weren’t any surprises.”
Pietro Sibello, Head Coach: “We’re using this week to make sure that next week we manage the crossovers of the sails well, and see which sails suit different winds. Today the forecast was a bit uncertain, so we decided to go for the biggest sail just before the start of the first race. The guys really pushed hard to be aggressive and the starting in both matches was a good point. If you can start in front, then it’s quite easy to stay in front.”
View race results and current standings here
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Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
