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Day 2 of the German Sailing Grand
Prix saw again spectacular fleet races and thrilling
match race duels between the three America's Cup
Challengers.
BMW Oracle Racing took the overall lead with 28
points after winning all four races. The Germans
are second now (24) followed by Shosholoza (7).
Perfect start, conservative tactics and fluent manoeuvres:
the American team sailed a victory with ease in
the first fleet race of the day, sailed under sunny
skies and 15 knots of wind.
Shosholoza takes second after the impressive victory
of yesterday's last race. A great achievement for
this old boat built in 1999.
In the second fleet race Chris Dickson had another
good start. In the last minute, Jesper Bank (Team
Germany), like a poker player, seems to have a slim
edge but he is too fast, too high and too close
to the line. He is forced to slow down a few seconds
before the gun is fired, giving an early advantage
to Chris whose timing is ideal. On the run home,
power speaks and the Germans sail faster and deeper
than the South Africans to take second place.
Protecting the left side of the course, close to
the Yacht Club, Jesper Bank takes the lead in the
first match race of the day against the US team.
The boats are neck to neck while they approach the
finish. At full speed on starboard, 200 meters from
the finish, Chris Dickson runs at full throttle
toward the German boat on port but sailing slows
after a bad jibe. Jesper can't respond and is penalised
for a clear port/starboard incident. This is the
end of the flight with Dickson taking a few important
points after trailing for 98% of the race.
BMW Oracle completes the day with a perfect score
after match race two against Shosholoza. After a
pretty even start for both teams Ian Ainslie and
Mark Sadler are unable to compensate the difference
of power between the two boats. Soon, the American
boat takes the lead and extends until the finish
to give BMW Oracle racing a perfect score for the
day.
Results Day 2
Fleet race 1
1. USA 71 3 points
2. RSA 48 (1'25'' Min) 2 points
3. GER 72 (1'45'' Min) 1 point
Match races (6 points a win)
BMW Oracle beat Team Germany (1'13'')
BMW Oracle beat Shosholoza (0'55'')
Team Germany beat Shosholoza (0'42'')
Fleet race 2
1. USA 71 3 points
2. GER 72 (1:00 Min) 2 points
3. RSA 48 (1:44 Min) 1 point
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