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Today’s AC LV Series
AM v Prada
Do or die for American Magic. Lose and go home.
Lumpy with 8 knots. Once again AM wins the start, forces Prada to tack, Prada going better but AM crosses and tacks on Prada, Prada sails through their Lee and forces AM to tack, Prada first at the weather mark by 14 seconds.
Prada builds a 400m lead, AM jibes away, Prada rounds the leeward mark 20 seconds to the good. Huge split on the next beat, no real change, but AM creeping a bit closer, now within 80m.
Prada only 8 seconds ahead at the weather mark, but Prada sails into more breeze and builds a 250m lead, which AM promptly eats into, then AM blows their jibe, Prada boogies away to round 22 seconds ahead at the bottom mark.
Prada is going very well, sailing strong, and they have this guy named Jimmy Spithill, perhaps you’ve heard of him? They build a 500m lead to round the final weather mark by 51 seconds, build the lead to 700m and baring breaking their traveler, this one is over. And it is.
AM was good, if not a bit strange. They had moments, but then they had a lot of control issues and other moments of mediocrity. The boat didn’t seem like it wanted to turn very well, but in fairness, none of the boats did. However, in comparison, Prada did it much better, as could be said for their overall effort.
A word about Spithill: he is, by far, the best skipper out there. His leadership skills are superb, his positive, cheerful and calm demeanor onboard is inspirational. His experience, knowledge, and skills are going to be very hard to beat going forward.
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