Spinnakered Win

Emirates Team New Zealand has won its third consecutive Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalenna, Sardinia, in Italy, beating the Russian syndicate Synergy 3—2. The day began with the Russians holding a 1— overnight lead against ETNZ and bursting with confidence. Asked, before taking to the water, how many races they expected to sail, several crew members of the Russian boat replied emphatically, “two”. In the last race, despite the Russian syndicate getting a replacement gennaker up within two minutes, it was all over as Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the line to win its third consecutive Louis Vuitton Trophy. “We had to work pretty damn hard to get it but we got there in the end,” said Davies. As to the turning point of the finals, he joked: “the last run, when their spinnaker blew out”.