Barker and the boys bounce back
Emirates Team New Zealand bounced back today, scoring a second place in the Friday fleet race.
It was the team’s only race for the day. Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies Jeremy Lomas and Derek Saward, led away from the start and around the first mark.
It was a good place to be even though Oracle 4 was in hot pursuit and Artemis Racing was not far behind.
At the first top mark, leading into leg 4, the starboard dagger board lifting post broke away, a potential match-losing problem. Unable to raise the board, they dragged it downwind as the crew rigged a temporary repair to get them to the line.
For a short while Oracle 4 took the lead, only to see Emirates Team New Zealand quickly regain it. And that’s the way it went, with Barker leading and James Spithill never far behind.
Then at the last mark Oracle got past and held on to finish 7s ahead. Given the breakage, it could have been much worse.
Here from Italy we have seen a wonderful job. The energy you need to win, the team we love, the Barker we know and want.
It was New Zealand’s race, not Oracle. You have been the true leader.
Great, thank you for the strong emotions.
Go on like this. Tomorrow will be even better. Hoping the good luck will be on your way until the end. As usual we see something magic in your black team and we admire your spirit.
See you tomorrow.
IIMPRESSIVE RACE BROKEN DAGGER BOARD LIFTER NOT THE USUAL CREW LETS HOPE YOURE BAD LUCK HAS FINISHED BETTER NOW THAN IN SAN FRAN NEXT YEAR YOU CAN AND I PRAY TO GOD YOU WILL BRING THE CUP BACK TO NZ