BMW Oracle's Day

Story from BMW Oracle Racing
Photo from Gilles Martin-Raget 2008 Courtesy BMW Oracle Racing

High Drama in Opening Day at Cowes.
Franck Cammas (FRA) and his BMW ORACLE Racing team won today's first two iShares Cowes Cup races in convincing fashion, and were second in the third. But in a day of dramatic racing in the fourth race, following a pile-up of 10 Extreme 40s at the first mark in 20-plus knots of wind, both BMW ORACLE Racing teams were forced to withdraw following a collision and a capsize.

Cammas and Co. were in contention at the first mark of the fourth race when another yacht failed to give room resulting in a collision and a forced retirement with a broken bowsprit and front beam to Cammas��� yacht. Soon after this, Team Spithill capsized on the leeward leg, breaking the rig when the top of the mast got stuck in the mud following the capsize. There were no injuries on either BMW ORACLE Racing boat.

The team was assessing the damage to both boats tonight in hopes of being race-ready tomorrow. One option is the possible availability of a substitute Extreme 40.

Despite scoring DNF ("Did Not Finish") in today's fourth race, Cammas' team stands third overall on the strength of his impressive 1-1-2 showing in the opening three races of the regatta today. Spithill's team stands eighth in the twelve-boat fleet. 18 races are scheduled, all races count (no discards), and the final race sailed counts double points.

Alinghi is leading on finishes of 2-6-3-1 on 40 points (high point scoring -- 12 points for first, 11 for second, etc., 0 for a DNF or DSQ) , Team Holmatro is second on 39 points, and BMW ORACLE Racing ��� Team Cammas third on 35 points.