America's Cup: Orient Express Racing wins first ever official AC40 Race
by Orient Express Racing Team media 17 Sep 2023 22:25 NZST
15-17 September 2023
Orient Express Racing Team - Race Day 2 - AC40 - America's Cup Preliminary Regatta - Vilanova - September 16, 2023 © America's Cup Media
A win in their first ever AC40 race saw Orient Express Racing Team finish the first day of competitive racing at the America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in second place overall.
Two challenging races in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain, provided the whole fleet with a test of boat handling and emphasised the vital importance of keeping the AC40s on their foils in the light and varied breeze which dominated the day.
In the first race Orient Express Racing Team surprised the competition with a port tack start on the opening upwind leg which pilots Quentin Delapierre and Kevin Peponnet were able to translate into a lead at the top mark as flight controllers Matthieu Vandame and Jason Saunders kept the AC40 flying.
The declining breeze saw the whole fleet come off their foils and go into displacement mode, with the French team then in a gybing duel with Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli as they closed in on the finish line in the shortened race.
In the close contest the Italians took a penalty and Orient Express Racing Team were able to cross the line, take the win and 10 invaluable points.
"In training we had not been going as well as all that, but we had analysed a lot of data and footage with the whole team to give us the tools to progress and today we were able to put that into place and there was an improvement.
"Once we were up and foiling we could compete and that's pretty good for day one. We were off the foils before the start so the most important thing was to get back on them, and once we did we were pretty confident we were going the right way."
The second race started in a similarly light breeze with only Alinghi Red Bull Racing, initially, and eventual winners Emirates Team New Zealand able to get on their foils at all.
Orient Express Racing Team placed third in the race earning a further five points, leaving them in second place overall though level on points with the America's Cup Defender Emirates Team New Zealand.
Saunders added: "Unfortunately the wind dropped on the second race and we didn't have the tools in the tool box to foil in those conditions so we put everything in to sailing in displacement mode. We were going quite well so we were happy with that. We'd certainly like to look at the race and see what the Kiwis did to foil as they looked pretty impressive – we have plenty of work to do!”
Stronger wind conditions are expected in Vilanova i la Geltrú on Sunday.