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Letter to the editor

Alinghi wins with local sailor at helm

By DAVE ELLIS
Published July 11, 2007

The 32nd America's Cup was won with local sailor Ed Baird at the helm. Unlike his previous forays into the Cup spotlight, Baird was the helmsman of a well-funded and highly organized team.

Switzerland's Team Alinghi had speed at least equal to that of Emirates Team New Zealand. None of the seven races had more than 35 seconds between the two boats at the finish after more than 12 miles of racing. As in sailboat racing of any style, sometimes the capriciousness of the wind dictated which team was leading a race. There were more lead changes in this Cup than in any since 1851.

Baird showed the world that he is a helmsman who can place a boat at its best angle to the wind for long stretches at a time, tack smoothly, jibe efficiently to allow for good crew work and remain cool under pressure. His hands were light on the wheel even in the closest situations.

In the final race, he had executed a perfect blocking maneuver at the penultimate mark, eliciting a foul by the New Zealand boat. With a good lead and knowing that the other boat had to make a penalty turn, it seemed that the America's Cup was Alinghi's.

But very close to the finish line, the wind died down and then made a 270-degree change in direction. There are sailors on the boat assigned to look for the wind while the helmsman concentrates on steering. One crew member insisted that the jib be placed on the bow, just in case. It is a good thing, as the New Zealand boat was much faster to react to the wind change since it was about to douse its spinnaker to make the obligatory penalty turn.

On Baird's boat, the spinnaker caved in, backed around and broke the pole that held it out. There was hectic scrambling at the front of the boat to douse the big sail and pull up the jib as the very light new wind made the finish an upwind fetch.

The New Zealand boat took its penalty turn, including heading downwind, before they could cross the nearby line. Baird's boat slowly picked up speed. At the finish there was less than a 10-foot difference at the gun, with Alinghi ahead.

During all of this time Baird showed no panic, just sailing the boat to its potential, considering the circumstances. Baird was just one of the kids at the St. Petersburg Sailing Center 40 years ago.

[Last modified July 10, 2007, 20:50:51]