America's Cup - Big day, big win for Artemis Racing in AC World series

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 30 Aug 2015 Light winds prevailed for the start of Race 1 of Day 2 of the America's Cup World Series Gothenburg

Oracle Team USA started right on the line, but immediately had to do a penalty, as did Emirates Team NZ for sailing outside a boundary in the pre-start.

Artemis Racing led around the first mark, with BAR last.

Sailing on Code Zeros, BAR and Oracle opted for the left hand side of the course, with the rest of the fleet heading for the right hand side, along with Emirates Team NZ.

Oracle picked up a second penalty after sailing outside the boundary on the second leg. Big variances in pressure with boats hotting up the angle to get up to 11kts from 4kts earlier in the leg.

Artemis racing led around Gate 2 with a big lead of 104 secs and headed up the right hand side of the course.

BAR and Oracle came through fast from last places at the end of Leg 2 to catch the front group of Japan, France and New Zealand.

All boats followed Artemis up the right hand side, with Emirates Team NZ breaking early and opting to sail a more central line to the Gate 3.

Artemis led around Gate 3, with BAR squeezing up to Emirates Team NZ at the top with the Kiwis rounding second 119secs behind the Swedish team, with BAR a close third, sailing in winds of just 4-5 kts on the six leg course.

Angles were very tight on the downwind legs as boats sailed very hot angles - almost reaching across the wind to build some speed before turning downwind a little.

At the bottom Artemis rounded first, with Team NZ flying a hull coming in on port rounding 107 secs or 400metres astern.

BAR had to put in an extra gybe rounding 134secs behind Artemis. Oracle moved into fourth 144secs astern and got a vital place ahead of Team Japan, with Groupama bringing up the rear.

Upwind on Leg 5, Artemis excepted it was a good fleet race. The Swedish Challenger led by 126 secs at gate 5, with Emirates Team NZ second just ahead of BAR and Oracle Team USA.

A key to the race was counting the tacks and gybes, something which Peter Burling and his crew did well on several approaches to the marks, making useful gains each time.

Artemis Racing won by a big margin from Emirates Team NZ who closed to 49 secs at the finish with BAR third 94 secs behind Artemis. Oracle Team USA finished fourth with SoftBank Team Japan fifth and Groupama sixth.

The result closed up the points table for the series, with the top three boats all on 34points, with Emirates Team NZ having the tiebreak going their way by virtue of their place in the last race sailed.