Energy Team at the Top

AMERICAS CUP – Youth and experience won on the opening day at the America’s Cup World Series in Venice, Italy. Team Korea’s Nathan Outteridge, at 26 years old one of the youngest skippers in the fleet, won the first fleet race. Then, Loick Peyron, 52, rallied his team for a come-from-behind win in race two to top the day’s  leaderboard.

“Look at that! Beautiful weather in Venice, snow on the mountains, and Energy Team at the top of the mountain today,” said an effervescent Peyron following his win. “The team did a tremendous job as usual. We still made mistakes, but a few less mistakes than the others, which is how you win.”

As Peyron indicated, it was beautiful racing weather in Venice on Thursday. The sea breeze was in the 8 to 11 knot range, under crystal clear, sunny skies. Not surprisingly given the conditions, the local spectator fleet was out in force to enjoy the competition.
Overall AC World Series leader Jimmy Spithill and his ORACLE TEAM USA crew had a difficult day in the fleet racing Thursday, posting an 8-4 scoreline to sit in seventh place on the leaderboard. Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand, second in the overall Series, wasn’t able to take full advantage, underperforming their own high expectations in fourth place, just three points clear of Spithill MORE STORY