The forecast looks fairly promising for Race 2 which is due to start around midday, although the race committee do plan to wait until the forecasted SE’ly breeze arrives and won’t be hurried. In many respects it is a similar situation to Friday Race 1 where the offshore breeze is due to give way a breeze from the southerly quadrant.

Alinghi 5 docked out first with Swiss timing at 0900hrs to their signature Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Can’t Stop’. If this proves to be their last day as America’s Cup holders, team president Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI) wore a huge smile and looked relaxed as he stepped on board. They have the advantage of entry with right of way on starboard tack today and may try for revenge in the start box, and aim to pin a penalty of USA.

BMW ORACLE Racing’s USA crew looked equally relaxed and focussed. They left their base knowing they can make sailing history today. The triangle course is more of a challenge in terms of manoeuvres, boat handling and sailing on the tight reaches. But, once more we are heading into unknown territory. Some say Alinghi will be stronger around the reaching course, but others simply point to the extra righting moment of USA and the power to drag ratio of their wing weapon.

It could be a red letter day for Russell Coutts (NZL) the CEO of  BMW ORACLE Racing. In 1995 he skippered Black Magic to win the America’s Cup for New Zealand 5-0 against Dennis Conner’s Young America and in 2003 he skippered Alinghi to win the America’s Cup 5-0 for Switzerland.

Race officer Harold Bennett (NZL) said this morning:

“ We are going out for looking to midday but I am not sure we will see the breeze by then, and we have to wait for this offshore breeze to die away and for the wind to turn into the SE, it is going to be in that quadrant, southerly or SE. So we have to wait and see until it develops.”

Crews line up. (no changes to Race 1 line up in either team)

Alinghi 5 Crew List :
Piet van Nieuwenhuijzen (NED),Bow 1
Curtis Blewett (CAN),Bow 2
Jan Dekker (RSA/FRA),Bow 3
Rodney Ardern (NZL),Pitman
Simon Daubney (NZL),Trimmer upwind
Nils Frei (SUI),Trimmer downwind
Warwick Fleury (NZL),Mainsail trimmer
Pierre-Yves Jorand (SUI),Traveller
Ernesto Bertarelli (SUI),Helmsman
Brad Butterworth (NZL),Tactician
Murray Jones (NZL),Strategist
Juan Vila (ESP),Navigator
Loïck Peyron (FRA),Floater
Peter Evans (NZL), Pre-start

BMW ORACLE Racing Team Crew List :
Brad Webb (NZL), Bowman
Simone de Mari (ITA), Pitman
Ross Halcrow (NZL), Jib Trimmer
Dirk de Ridder (NED), Wing Sail Trimmer
Joey Newton (AUS), Wing Sail Caddy
John Kostecki (USA),Tactician
James Spithill (AUS),Skipper/Helmsman
Matteo Plazzi (ITA),Navigator
Thierry Fouchier (FRA), Aft Pit
Matthew Mason (NZL), Mast