Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Louis Vuitton Cup- Cheap point for new helmsman

by Bob Fisher on 28 Jul 2013
Emirates Team New Zealand NZL5 with Glenn Ashby driving practice before the Round Robin 4, Artemis race. Louis Vuitton Cup. San Francisco. Chris Cameron/ETNZ http://www.chriscameron.co.nz

For the first time in the Louis Vuitton Cup races for six years, Dean Barker was absent from the wheel of Emirates Team New Zealand, and his place as helmsman was taken by Glenn Ashby, normally the wing trimmer.

Ashby’s credentials for the job are more than sufficient, having won 14 world championships in three multihull classes and ten Australian A-class catamaran championships.

The south-westerly breezes in San Francisco Bay were lighter than usual, at an average of 13 knots, peaking at 15.7. Nevertheless, Ashby and the Kiwi crew sailed the AC-72 around the five-leg, 9.64-mile course in 30’:59' at an average of 22.8 knots, with a top speed of 33.8 knots. It was an impressive performance in what should have been a race against Artemis that gave the reserve helmsman good practice on the racecourse.

There was just one moment of concern for the ETNZ crew. It occurred as the boat rounded the windward gate and was about to gybe. A family cruising boat had strayed on to the course as Ashby prepared for the downwind manoeuvre shortly after bearing away – he was forced to gybe early to miss the boat. 'Not the sort of thing you would want if you were in a close race,' declared a smiling wing trimmer Adam Beashel.

At the end of the fourth round robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand leads with eight points and Luna Rossa has four; the Swedish team, Artemis, has yet to race. The blue boat has been out for practice on three occasions, but stayed in her Alameda base today. Tomorrow sees ETNZ matched against Luna Rossa in the fifth round.

Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTERMaritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER

Related Articles

Virtual Regatta, the Vendée Globe for everyone
New innovations and features have improved the whole experience The Vendée Globe is not just for hard bitten sailors. Thanks to Virtual Regatta, the official game, it is possible to compete in the Vendée Globe from home whilst experiencing the some of the real conditions that the skippers encounter at sea.
Posted today at 9:58 am
Surprise move by America's Cup Event
Surprise announcement made to stop teams from sailing and testing The Defender and Challenger of Record for the next America's Cup have given notice of rules that will apply for the 38th America's Cup, effectively immediately designed to stop teams from sailing or testing, before the announcement of the next Protocol.
Posted today at 8:05 am
Marine Auctions: November Online Auction
idding to open on Friday 22 November and close on Thursday 28 November Bidding to open on Friday 22 November and Close on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 2pm AEST.
Posted today at 5:26 am
Before the 2024 Vendee starts the next race begins
The growth of the IMOCA fleet, driven out of France looks set to spill over into The Ocean Race The growth of the IMOCA fleet, driven out of France looks set to spill over into The Ocean Race, and other races based in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, with eight to ten starts and finishes offering plenty of future racing opportunities.
Posted today at 4:17 am
Vaikobi Black Friday 2024 is now on
Everything at vaikobi.com is 15 - 70% off site wide right now! Everything at vaikobi.com is 15 - 70% off site wide right now! It's a big day for watersports enthusiasts who love being comfortable and performing well on and off the water - It's the start of the 2024 Black Friday Sales at VAIKOBI.COM!
Posted today at 1:00 am
Kojiro Shiraishi - the IMOCA fleet's Obi-Wan!
The Japanese sailor is set to start his third Vendée Globe on Sunday Kojiro Shiraishi is the skipper of the IMOCA DMG MORI in the Vendée Globe. At the age of 26 he became the youngest sailor to complete a non-stop single-handed circumnavigation, twice finished 2nd in the solo BOC Challenge.
Posted on 7 Nov
L'Occitane Sailing Team set for the Vendée Globe
Clarisse Crémer: "I want to be more confident this time" Four years after completing her first solo circumnavigation of the globe, Clarisse Crémer is preparing to repeat the experience, albeit in a completely new way.
Posted on 7 Nov
Savvy Navvy signs Australian and NZ distributor
As the company continues to make digital navigation solutions more accessible for boaters Marine technology company Savvy Navvy has signed Australia-based Paddy Wester as its exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor, as the company continues to make digital navigation solutions more accessible for boaters.
Posted on 7 Nov
Lexus of Tasmania Maria Island Race Preview
A quality fleet will set off on the 180-mile race on Friday The 77th Lexus of Tasmania Maria Island Race starts from Castray Esplanade at 19:00 on Friday evening, hosted by The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.
Posted on 7 Nov
Magenta project: Pathways of three top sailors
The Magenta Project connects with Sam Davies, Pip Hare, and Mariana Lobato as they share their paths This weekend six women, a record, are starting in the Vendee Globe, which is one of the few sailing events offering open racing between men and women. Although the Vendee has not been won by a woman, the last two round the world races have.
Posted on 7 Nov