Swiss snap mast in training

6.00pm - by JULIE ASH

Russell Coutts' Swiss syndicate Alinghi were counting their lucky stars tonight that their rig failure occurred during training and not against Oracle BMW Racing in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton challenger series, which start tomorrow.

The Swiss syndicate were testing SUI64 and SUI75 this morning when the top of the mast of SUI64 broke as the boat was sailing downwind in 23 knots of wind.

It took the team around two hours to stabilise the mast before they could tow the boat back to the Viaduct. Once back at their base, a new mast was immediately fitted.

Alinghi design co-ordinator Grant Simmer said the crew did a great job of stabilising the rig in the rough conditions.

"Thankfully no one was injured. We ended up quite a long way out towards the Coromandel Peninsula as we had to run with the wind until we had cut away the mainsail and secured the rig.

"It's disappointing as we were planning to use this mast for our first race against Oracle tomorrow. However, we have a back-up rig."

Mast engineer Pete Lawson said it was just one of those things that can happen.

"Obviously it could have happened at a better time but at least it didn't happen during racing tomorrow."

Alinghi announced last week they would be racing SUI64 in the semifinals but Oracle waited until today to announce they would stay with USA76 for the match.

Oracle have used USA76 in every match so far, keeping USA71 under wraps.

"We still haven't sold all the USA76 clothing so it will be a little longer before we change," quipped skipper Chris Dickson.

Jokes aside, Dickson knows his team will have to be at their best to beat Alinghi, skippered by long-time rival Coutts.

"We know Alinghi is the top boat, they have won more races than all of us. They are going to be very tough.

"We just hope that our act is good enough to give them a good run for their money."

Dickson said no decision had been made as to who would make up his team's afterguard.

"We have tried a number of different combinations successfully and we'll make a decision on the morning depending on the circumstances day by day."

Prada also had to repair one of their boats after ITA74 and ITA80 collided in a training session on Friday, damaging ITA74.

"It was one of those things that happens when you train," said Prada skipper Francesco de Angelis.

"It is like when you ski - if you never fall off it means you don't push very hard.

"It's sad as the boats are very delicate so there's a lot of work for the shore team but on the other hand you have to do what you have to do."

Prada's opponents in the sudden-death semifinal, OneWorld, will race USA67.

"The design group has been doing a fantastic job," said OneWorld skipper Peter Gilmour.

"They have worked hard over a three or four-week period on USA65 and have really made a significant improvement there. We have shifted a lot of those improvements across to USA67.

"I think you are going to see certainly a different boat, from our perspective, out there sailing in this round."

Race organisers have predicted strong breezes over the next few days. Monday's forecast is for 16-20 knot southwesterlies.

Racing is scheduled to get under way at 1.15pm.

The winner of the Alinghi and Oracle match advances straight to the final while the loser races the winner of the Prada and OneWorld match to decide the other finalist.

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