Americas Cup Series at Cascais: China Team AC45, powered by the ‘Old’ Tornado Breed

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget – HQ click to enlarge

Another great day of fleet racing for the AC45s. Emirates Team New Zealand showing their class, specially on the Match Race against Artemis, where Barker had a perfect MR start. The MRs weren´t that good regarding close racing but Energy had their jib off, Coutts was over the line and Artemis was killed by Barker on the start and then had 3 penalties!

Besides TNZ and good moments on Korea and Energy, the highlight of the day for me was the performance of Team China on race 3.

They started bad with an 8th, then a good 4th and on the 3rd Booth prepared the perfect start. All looking for the pin Mitch went slowly forward with a clear way to the RC boat. The start is on a reach, so gathering speed is a must, China got perfect timing, positioning and most of all, angle, to speed up and left the fleet wondering who was that white train passing by.







See the complete video sequence at 02:30 hs mins here

The ‘Tornado Gang’ led by Mitch Booth controlled the race until they had a handling error in leg 3 with their gennaker that cost them the lead, they recovered but got a penalty on port-starboard while tacking ahead TNZ close to the course limit (if you touch that virtual limit you get a penalty too)

They ended losing two more

places to tie with Energy team for the last spot for the

match races, but as ET was ahead on the last race they

past through.

Nevertheless it was an excellent speed class by the Tornado specialists plus the

Finn sailor Andrew Mills.

Mitch Booth – Tornado double Olympic medalist plus 11

World Titles (A-Class, hobie, f18 , Tornado)

Pim Nieunweihus – Mitch crew on their last T/F18

campaigns, F18 skipper (5th F18 Worlds 2011)

Charles Ogletree – Tornado silver medalist – Sail designer

Ed Van Lierde – Tornado sailor and several X40 campaigns

Nice to see these ‘beachcat’ sailors racing one on one with the top AC teams with several more hours on the AC45s.

All good signs for the future, still much to learn and besides some errors a catasilor can relate that if you have the speed and the boat handling you are on the right track for better and bigger things.

Of course the Match Races will be key for the Cup, and there Barker and Spitill will hold the advantage, but as we saw in these 4 days, no leader has their race confirmed until they cross the finish line.

Great pride on the ‘Old ‘Tornado Breed’ , showing that the isaf establisment underrated small cats are no ‘beach toys’… at all-