No one on board Mascalzone Latino Audi Team thought that the first race would be easy.  The French-German team led by Schuemann, a three time olympic gold medallist and one time silver, and with the "enfant terrible" Sebastien Col at the helm, won the race by choosing the right side of the course.
 
Mascalzone Latino managed very well the handicap of having to enter the start box on port tack, by entering aggressively yet without risking a penalty.  It was a split tack start, with Mascalzone Latino Audi Team going for the left side of the course, where the current from Rangitoto Canal is weaker.  All4One started at the Committee end, choosing the right side of the course.
 
Mascalzone Latino was in advantage over All4One for the first part of the upwind leg, until the wind rotated to the right side of the course. At the first mark, Mascalzone Latino was trailing 19 seconds, which stretched to 44 seconds on the finish line.  A real shame, considering the flawless maneuvering of the crew, showing that a good chemistry has been rapidly achieved on board.
Race results do not follow certain rules, tomorrow is another day.  Every team will see victories and defeats - sometimes inevitable and sometimes unexpected.  Mascalzone Latino will have to face the All Blacks of sailing, the New Zealanders of Emirates Team New Zealand.
 
The other matches of the day saw ETNZ over Artemis, while Azzurra overtook the British of Team Origin.  The last race between the Russians of Synergy and the French of Aleph started after 19:00pm, illuminated by a splendid sunset over the bay of Auckland.  The French had an unexpected win over the Russians.

Lara Ciribì Onorato

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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 March 2010 )