Alinghi landed the first shot on the water in the America’s Cup against BMW Oracle on Monday despite the acrimonious best-of-three series being delayed.
The defending champion Swiss team sailed circles around BMW Oracle during a four-hour wait off the Valencia coast before the first race was postponed until today because of unsteady wind.
Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli said they did “a couple of tours” around the American challenger to send a message and to get a look at its three-hull boat.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“We want to have a race. All these hours and days that go by make it more difficult to wait,” said Bertarelli, a biotech billionaire who is also Alinghi’s helmsman. “We wanted to sail a little bit to show them that that’s what we like to do.”
Bertarelli didn’t spot BMW Oracle president Larry Ellison on board his boat: The navigator is only expected to assume his role from the second race.
“He doesn’t seem to be willing to be on his boat, which is unfortunate,” Bertarelli said. “Winning the America’s Cup for a sailor means being on board.”
The 33rd edition of the sailing classic has been disrupted by a court fight lasting two-and-a-half years.
Both teams had to dock out about 6:30am before returning to Port America’s Cup around 4:30pm with the race course 24km out to sea.
“I think it’s the first time in Cup history that we’ve been out with two hours to go before sunrise,” Bertarelli said. “It’s something special to be pointing out at the start line in the middle of the night.”
Wind conditions were expected to pick up today, but choppier waters are also likely, meaning there is a good chance that another postponement is imminent.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care