Alinghi to face Team NZ after winning Louis Vuitton Cup

By TERRY MADDAFORD

It is all on. Dean Barker and Team New Zealand against Russell Coutts and Alinghi for the America's Cup.

Swiss team Alinghi, skippered by Coutts, today raced ahead of American team Oracle BMW Racing, winning the sixth race of the challengers' series on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf to seize the Louis Vuitton Cup 5-1.

Coutts must now wait until February 15 and the match most predicted before the first of the challenger's races were sailed.

In a start, again much-delayed by light, flukey breezes, Alinghi were sucked in to some close stuff eventually copping a nalty for a port-starboard infringement. With that penalty hanging over them, it was always going to be difficult for Dickson and USA76.

Away from the split tack start, Oracle headed left, built sed and a four or five boat length lead in conditions made rfect by the turning tide and eight knot northerly breeze. Alinghi closed as the boats headed for the first mark but was still 15s back.

On the first leg under spinnaker, and watched by a huge spectator fleet, Cameron Dunn, high up the mast on Oracle, continued to call the shots as USA76 edged out to a 28s lead at mark two. It all changed on the second beat as Coutts, with Brad Butterworth calling the tactics, closed and eventually sailed around Oracle to lead around the third mark by 10secs. Game, set, and eventually match, to the Swiss.

Coutts, unruffled, maintained the pressure. Picking the shifts and reading the conditions rfectly, he gave Dickson no opportunity to get back. Stretching that advantage to 24s by the fourth mark and then gaining the windward position with both boats on starboard tack on the next leg, Alinghi remained in control. They maintained that 24s advantage on the next beat to round the last mark comfortably. With the wind still blowing eight knots from due north - conditions expected to favour the American challenger - Alinghi stayed clear of any trouble until within sight of the finish, Oracle closed it up and eventually edged ahead in a super-charged burst at the finish.

With a tear threatening to rip their spinnaker in two, Oracle could not maintain the pressure as Alinghi went across the finish line just ahead of Oracle who eventually completed their penalty turn to cross an official 2m 34s behind.

For Oracle designer Bruce Farr it was again the end of another America's Cup dream. For the come-from-behind Swiss, it was time for the champagne as a European-based challenge - but with plenty of Kiwi input - turned their attention to the 31st America's Cup Match against Team New Zealand, scheduled to begin Febuary 15.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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