GB1 Helm Dylan Fletcher described the British Team’s first day at the 38th America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta (PR2) as “When it rains, it pours!”
Fletcher said . . . We had no grip, loads of leeway, were going slow on port, tacking – everything. Everything other than sailing on starboard was terrible.
His comments followed two eighth place finishes after the cover plate ripped off their starboard foil in the first race.
The latest issue came after GB1’s AC40 sustained damage following an incident with a Tudor Team Alinghi chase boat during practice racing earlier in the week, requiring the shore team to work around the clock to repair the boat ahead of racing.
Despite the damage, GB1 fought through both races and ended the opening day eighth overall with 6 pts.
Attention then turned to the shore team once again as GB1 worked to repair the issue ahead of Saturday’s racing on the Bay of Naples.
A better day for the GB2 Women & Youth team, who took third in the first race behind ARC USA team and the Luna Rossa Senior team.
A sixth in the second race for GB2, after managing to narrowly avoid the capsizing French boat – they clipped the media mast on the stern – saw them finish the first day in fifth overall with 13 pts.
There are four races scheduled for Saturday from 13:00 hrs
