America`s Cup Day 5 Race 9 - High wind shutdown

by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team on 15 Sep 2013 After the most sensational leg three in this 34th America's Cup, in which Emirates Team New Zealand went with a few metres of capsizing, there were a lot of smiling Americans ahead of race eight.

Out on the course the backer of Oracle Team USA, Larry Ellison was beaming on the team chase boat.

The Kiwis have lost two races so far in this series, on both occasions Grant Dalton was off the boat. For the second race of today he was back on board.

Ahead of the start, America's Cup Race 8, the wind peaked a couple of times about the mandated limit of 22.7 knots delaying the start.

After a little the wind eased and the Kiwis were first into the box.

A great job in the pre-start from Dean Barker and Emirates won the start and were ahead by two lengths at the first mark.

Oracle gybed away soon after the rounding, close cover from Emirates.

The USA team were foiling better in the choppy conditions.

At the bottom mark, they split right seven seconds behind. The race was poised for another great third leg.

Then came the crackle on the radio, Harold Bennett the Principal Race Officer advising the race had been abandoned, mandatory when the wind exceeded the 22.7 knot limit for five minutes. End of racing for the day.

Oracle Team New Zealand leads the series on the water 6-2. But the best day so far for Oracle Team USA.