thrills and spills galore......

...in the final fleet race - winner takes all. And Spitall taught all the boys a lesson in seamanship today!!

Welcome to my LAST blog on the 34th America's Cup World Series  - the Plymouth Leg!!

copyright Gilles Martin-Raget ACEA OR Ricardo Pinto

the ACWS website doesn't say which one - so my apologies

what is equally as important is  - can see me in the crowd.....can you make me out........on the raised bit at the foot of that white tower, towards the lower left hand side?

It was a change of course, change of tactics and a change of location for me, as I scuttled across to the Mountbatten side of the sound for this the last race. The wind, force 6 was gusting directly from the north west in to our faces, making even the job of holding a small camera lense steady, a feat of consumate skill and patience!

spectators started arriving in boats

amateur photographers jostled for position

the officials started to patrol the red zone borders

fleet security just shot about everywhere

QHM turned up to check all was well

and Artemis came out to practice for 30 minutes or so before the start

And, whatsmore, ITV 4, a national TV station here in the UK did a half hour's programme about this weekend, miracles of mircales and wonders will never cease. Well done to ITV, even if you did put it on your fourth station!!

the race officicals made sure all knew where to moor safely

and the crowds this side and on the Hoe got bigger

bow men folded and re-folded sails in preparation

Mr Coutt's shot about everywhere before the start

and the Coastguard took the opportunity to make a seriously important announcement

the Team korea coach boat went along side

Artemis started REALLY warming up

and Mr Coutt's kindly gave all spectators on the Hoe a real good close up

With 2 minutes to go, the french team Corum managed to capsize on their approach to the start line; Green Comm managed the spectacular feet of actually parking their rear port aft hull on top of an oracle boat, the rudder locking both hulls together. China capsized a little later on, as did Artemis, and on one boat, one poor unfortunate crew member actually plunged straight through the wing sail into the briny below - it was a huge hole....but he was safe....shaken but safe!

2 minutes to the start and as we say in rugby......it's an up.....

.................wait for it.............

yep.....it's an 'up and under.......'

with a near collision thrown in for good measure

time to hang on for grim death.....gutting the clock is counting down to the start

sorting out the tangles

time is counting down - get that line on

come on tow it back upright.......we still have time

YES, YES, YES......on her way back up

and splash down and BACK in the race!

Well done Team Corum!

Oracle Coutts and Oracle Spitall battled it out for much of the race with New Zealand chomping at their heels. Some clever tactical play by Team New Zealand took them into second place and it was really close rounding the last marks, but as ever, that wily aussie skipper kept the lead and crossed the line a few seconds ahead of Team New Zealand.

the strain shows on the faces

Team New Zealand, match race winners yesterday, intent on building on this success

and Oracle 'Coutt's' determined not to let them .....

Team China's coach crew look on anxiously

whilst race officials politely explain the consequences of being mown down by a 39 kph AC45 to some interlopers

crowds build on the Hoe

I wonder what old Francis Drake would have made of this......certainbly disturbed his game of bowls almost as much as the Spanish Amarda!

'where have they all gone?'

the problems of putting one marker way over in Jennycliffe Bay on the eastern side of the Sound

Coutt's comes 'tanking' down one leg doing about 39 knots

and then its for most of the race Coutt's versus Spitall with neither prepared to give quarter

there really was a 'burn up' contest going on between the two Oracle boats

and there was very little in it

the point at which Green Comm turn across Team New Zealand and manage to get their hull lifted up onto the bows of the Nespresso AC45!!

the Umpires boat holds position just off Mountbatten pier

 A brilliant afternoon's racing, here is the edited highlights - enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-XAbVQUAo4&feature=channel_video_title

The crowds on Plymouth Hoe increased throughout the week, as the city embraced the World Series and the teams.

“Plymouth has been buzzing with excitement since you arrived,” said Councillor Vivien Pengelly. “It is estimated that over 115 000 people have lined the Hoe over the past week to see some of the most exciting racing to ever come to British waters. I have to take my hat off to all of the teams. Your skills are amazing. We’ve been thrilled to have you here.”

And I think our Vivien has summed that up rather nicely!

And my final video efforts from all of this week condensed down to only 5 minutes will appear sometime mid week.  Next weekend - it is tamer things, the Newton Abbott boat jumble! I know, you can barely contain your excitement can you?

Steve