America's Cup Race 13 - Nine lives for the USA Cat

by Sail-World.com on 21 Sep 2013 In the 34th America's Cup, after the last race 13 was blown, the teams are ready to do it all over again. Oracle Team USA has won the last three starts, a masterful performance from skipper Jimmy Spithill.

After being behind by 1000 metres in the first edition of Race 13, the American team was saved by the 40 minute time clock. Now to do it again.

Emirates Team New Zealand first into the box. The pressure was on, If the Kiwis won this race, they would take the America’s Cup from defender Oracle Team USA.

Emirates won the start, after Spithill missed the hook. Emirate a length ahead at the first mark, a three second delta.
Oracle takes the lead, after a severe duck to avoid Emirates on port.

Key action at the bottom mark, when Emirates decided not to follow the Americans in and were very slow - as at the last minute they had to wing right allowing Oracle to climb away.

Oracle extended all the way up the leg, the team work between Ainslie and Slingsby producing very good decisions.

A big left hand shift and Oracle laid the top mark. A giant gain. The top mark delta of 46 seconds. A remarkable leg from the Cup defenders more than 700 metres ahead as they head down wind.

Two excellent gybes from the race leaders, a big delta of a minute at mark four and another great win for Oracle Team USA. 84 seconds. These guys have nine lives, no wonder they’re sailing a cat.

Emirates leads 8-5 on the water that is 8-3 after the penalty reduction. And the defenders live to fight another day.

Spithill comments ‘What a fantastic second race. Benny made a great call at the bottom mark and that was the end of the race.

Dean Barker – ‘A very frustrating day to be honest. It was disappointing to be that close and be so far away. In the re-run, we gave them an opening at the bottom mark at that was it.

‘We know we can win this thing, we just have to get it together on the day.’