By JULIE ASH
Will the colourful French be the first to go home?
That's a major question heading into the second round of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.
Semifinalists in the last challenger series, Le Defi Areva find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table after the first round without
a win.
But the team's rules adviser and sailing coach, Philippe Gomez, refuses to panic.
Gomez, competing in his third America's Cup, says all that is needed is a bit of fine tuning.
"There are two reasons for not winning a race and they are the same for everybody," he says. "Either your boat is too slow or you make mistakes in tactics.
"We lost several races because of speed - we were never in a position to fight - and we lost against GBR Challenge and Mascalzone Latino because we made tactical mistakes."
Most yachting experts would agree that the French boat FRA69 is by no means slow. It is the work on board which needs a little more polishing.
"If everyone thinks we have a fast boat - perfect," Gomez says.
"We were not in the upper range of speed. The speed of the boat is not good on the beats, and that is the main problem. Downwind is good."
Gomez says his team have made some modifications to their yacht during the seven-day break between rounds.
"We have made lots of minor changes, but nothing radical. We don't have the resources to make radical changes."
After sporting a wider boat in San Diego in 1995, the French opted for a narrow yacht in 1999, but have decided to go back to a wider version this time.
Asked if they have ever considered a middle-of-the-range boat, Gomez shrugs.
"We are not perfect, we are French." Gomez says nothing surprised him in the first round - the favourites stood out. "I think Oracle might make changes to their boat. I rate them with Alinghi and OneWorld.
"Out of OneWorld and Alinghi I think maybe Alinghi are the better team."
But in the race for the final top-four positions, Gomez says it is anyone's guess. "At the moment I don't think anyone can say it could be Prada, it could be GBR Challenge, it could be the Swedes - they all have new boats and all have strong thinking."
He says that even the big syndicates have not been immune to trouble in the past.
"In 1995 it was us and the Australians - they lost their boat and we lost our keel.
"In 2000 it was New York who according to everyone had the fastest boat, but they made a succession of tactical mistakes.
"So technically when we arrived here we knew one of those guys would die or have problems.
"You don't know who or when, but at the moment it is Prada. But I think they will bounce back."
For their campaign to continue further than eight more races, the French obviously need to start winning.
But if the worst comes to the worst, they just have to beat their nearest rivals, Mascalzone Latino, and hope the Italians lose all their races.
If two teams are tied on points after the two round robins, the winners are the team who won when the two met.
Gomez, an international umpire since 1994 and the rules adviser for the French team in the last two Olympics, is confident Le Defi Areva and their florescent green yachts will be around for a little longer.
"We have a good chance of going forward because only one team goes home and it shouldn't be difficult."
The second round of the Louis Vuitton Challenger series starts on Wednesday.
It was originally to start on Tuesday, but that day has been set aside for the last match in round one - Prada v Mascalzone Latino.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By JULIE ASH
Will the colourful French be the first to go home?
That's a major question heading into the second round of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series.
Semifinalists in the last challenger series, Le Defi Areva find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table after the first round without
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