With Emirates Team New Zealand and Artemis first on the water in the best-of-three semi-finals, competition in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalena, Italy, stepped up a notch yesterday.
Twelve days of round-robin racing in this America's Cup-class regatta produced major surprises, including the elimination of BMW Oracle, the defender of the America's Cup, and Mascalzone Latino Audi, the challenger of record.
Also unexpected was the emergence of the Synergy Russian Sailing Team, and the new Franco-German team All4One coming top of the leaderboard.
The series, regarded as sailing's equivalent of motor racing's Formula One, will be coming to the UAE in November when Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) hosts the third of four rounds. The UAE beat out some of the world's major yachting destinations, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, the chairman of DIMC and the chief executive of Emirates airline, described it as "a real coup".
Organised by the World Sailing Teams Association, a group of America's Cup-level teams that was formed last year with the support of the French luxury goods company, the regatta follows a similar format to the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger selection series that preceded all America's Cups between 1983 and 2007.
The 17-strong crews race in identical Version 5 America's Cup yachts, which guarantees close-quarters racing while eliminating technological advantages that can exaggerate the differences between teams.
"It's all about the skill of the sailors," said Sid Bensalah, the general manager of DIMC, as he flew to La Maddalena. "This is the pinnacle of the sport, on a par with the UAE's other major events, in motorsport, tennis, golf and horse racing."
Before yesterday's first race, Grant Dalton, the managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand, stressed the closeness of the competition.
"Every one of these teams can beat you on any day," he said.
Yesterday, in the first of the best-of-three-race semi-finals, between Artemis and ETNZ, it was one-all before the decisive final race. Terry Hutchinson and his crew on the Swedish boat stole the start from ETNZ just metres from the line. But it was not enough for the Swedish team: despite a bungle at the second mark, the Emirates Team New Zealand stormed away to a comfortable win.
Dean Barker put the semi-final victory down to the team's attitude. "We always back ourselves to win," he said. "The first race was difficult for us ... but we do everything at the highest possible level."
The winner of today's semi-final between All4One and Synergy will meet ETNZ in the final.
* Compiled by Sandra Lane
Artemis v ETNZ
Artemis: Royal Swedish Yacht Club. Skipper Paul Cayard, helmsman Terry Hutchinson, strategist Cameron Appleton.
ETNZ: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Skipper and helmsman Dean Barker, tactician Ray Davies, stategist Adam Beashel.
All4One v Synergy
All4One: Cercle de la Voile (France), Kieler Yacht-Club (Germany). Skipper Jochen Schümann, helmsman Sébastien Col.
Synergy: Russia. Skipper and helmsman Karol Jablonski, tactician Rod Dawson.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
Winner: Miqyaas, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Speedy Move, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECVT%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E119bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E145Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C89%2C900%20(%2424%2C230)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
