© Carlo Borlenghi/ Alinghi: preparations on Alinghi 5
What they’re saying on the eve of the America’s Cup.
Harold Bennett (NZL) Principal Race Officer:
His thoughts on the weather for Race 1 day:
“At the moment it looks like a very light offshore breeze early, which will fade away and begins to look like coming from the south. That was an earlier forecast and so we don’t have a straight answer on that just now.
Does he have clear ideas in his mind about what the wind limits might be? “We will take the day as it comes and work it our from there.”
Is there any step change in technology they are using for race management since 32nd Americas’ Cup: “I think probably there is no much of an advance in terms of technology in what we are using, we use the same methods as before.”
Alain Gautier (FRA), Alinghi, on the start: “The priority boat will try to put a penalty on the other. And on these boats that can be very expensive.” “It is less important to break the start line on the gun than to start well launched with speed and without a penalty.”
James Spithill, (AUS), BMW ORACLE Racing: “It is all new to us. The boats have completely different characteristics and obviously we only have the one boat each and so we have not really been able to go out there and try as hard as we usually do. I think it will be interesting. I think they have tried to set up the start line so there will be no ‘dial-up’. I think we will see the boats turn back quite early and really try to fight for the side. The first cross is so important in match racing, however I think this time you really want o be going the right way. To do any manoeuvre in a multihull is quite expensive. I am quite excited myself, because I just can’t wait to see what happens. “
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