Kiwi Magic?

After three races in the Marseille round of the Audi MedCup, Emirates Team New Zealand leads by a clear seven points from José Cusi’s Bribon which won the second race. The Kiwi crew was consistent in strategies, often winning the favoured left side of the track and keeping their boat moving well in a breeze that never got above 8 knots. “Conditions were much easier to read here than in Alicante.” said tactician Ray Davies “We had two good starts down the pin end when it was favoured and then we moved up the line. When it was really congested we started off the line a little but much faster and were able to roll over everybody. The boat is going really well in this steady breeze. As soon as we have the guys on the rail hiking we go really well. In terms of the decision making after Alicante we decided that we needed to talk more and the more you talk and the more you can feel confidence in your decisions. It is working really well, and Adam Beashel is doing a superb job calling the breeze up the track and Kevin Hall has been doing some really good lay lines. Dean’s starting has been good, and that just means the crew work has been good and the atmosphere is really positive, but, it is really easy to be positive when you are winning.”

Photo from Ian Roman and more from him, plus Gilles Morelle, Gilles Martin-Raget and Nico Martinez here.