Team Origin beaten by Italian Azzura team at Louis Vuitton Trophy (From Daily Echo)

Team Origin beaten by Italian Azzura team at Louis Vuitton Trophy

11:38am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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TEAM Origin, the British America’s Cup squad led by Ben Ainslie, have lost their first race at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta.

The team were beaten by the Italian Azzurra team in tricky conditions in the Rangitoto Channel.

Ainslie made a good entry from the starboard end and fought for and won the right hand side which had appeared favoured in the first race on the same course.

The Italian team, on the left hand side of the course, managed to keep the battle close up the first beat, the pair converging twice before the power of the right hand side forced the Italian team back away to the left.

The Italians did however manage to stay very much in touch.

Whilst Team Origin led around the first windward mark, holding Azzurra up to weather and beyond the buoy, when they both eventually turned downwind Azzurra made a quicker spinnaker hoist as they were set up for a bear away hoist whilst Team Origin had set up for a gybe hoist. Azzurra managed to cast a wind shadow on Team Origin forcing them into a slow gybe away.

At that point Azzurra took the lead.

Team Origin worked hard to stay in contention and made some gains on the last run but Azzurra and went on to sail defensively and into an unassailable lead of 53 seconds at the end of the second lap.

Ainslie said: “Azzurra sailed a good race today, they seem to have a knack of overtaking us which is getting very frustrating.

“I was happy with the start and 1st beat call, we were fully in contention at the top mark and tried to hold them up, we were unfortunately set up for a gybe set given the wind direction and they were set up for a straight bear away hoist which allowed them to gain some distance and take the lead.

“We pushed hard to keep it close for the rest of the race especially on the final run but a couple of shifts went their way and they took the race win.

“For sure there were some positives from the day but we have to work on not losing the leads. Tomorrow is another day.”