America's Cup 2013 Race 10 - Kiwis just two wins from Cup
by Sail-World.com on 16 Sep 2013
34th America’s Cup - Oracle Team USA vs Emirates Team New Zealand, Race Day 6 ACEA / Photo Balazs Gardi
http://www.americascup.com/
In America's Cup, the current is down around half a knot as it ebbs towards the Golden Gate Bridge and the wind is holding just under the limit, 19-20 knots.
The body language on Oracle Team USA was buoyant. After being belted in the early part of the series, they have won the last two races.
The wind has hit the limit, current corrected at 21.5 knots, triggering a clock restart back to 15 minutes again. The wind cooperates.
Emirates Team New Zealand into the box first. As they approach the line Spithill was better placed. Emirates kept the overlap and led into the down wind leg. As they approached the bottom mark at 40 knots the Americans were looking for a split. Emirates turned left. Oracle was slow on the turn as they headed right towards Alcatraz.
Emirates heads right on the first upwind cross, they did not bounce Oracle on the next cross. The gap was steadily reducing, Oracle with the right of way and Emirates were behind by a length as the two boats crossed at the top of thr course. The next cross it was Emirates back in the lead.
Just a second between the boats at the top mark.
The two crews split early on the run and when they came back together it was the Kiwis with starboard advantage and the lead, which they held to the finish. Oracle Team USA, they dipped behind the Kiwis and lost almost 150 metres at a critical time.
Ten seconds ahead at mark 4, Emirates Team New Zealand blast reached to the finish.
The Kiwi wins Race 10 by 17 seconds.
Looking back, one second at the top mark, but beaten down the run, opportunity lost by Oracle Team USA.
Talking about the critical cross on the last downwind leg Jimmy Spithill said ' We talked about gybing but we figured we'd be pinned out. Maybe we should have not slowed down as much, maybe we should have shaved her stern.
'We´ve been really improving the boat, we are looking forward to Tuesday.'
But in the real world, that Race 10 win by the Kiwis shows that the Americans are almost out of runway.
Emirates Team New Zealand leads on the scoreboard 7-1, and 7-3 in wins.
The winner of the 34th America’s Cup will be the first team to win 9 points.
For the Kiwis that means two additional race wins and for Oracle Team USA it means eight.
Oracle Team USA started the series with a minus two win score due to a penalty imposed by the International Jury.
34th America’s Cup Standings (first to 9 points wins)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 7
Oracle Team USA – 1
Race 10 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/10.02 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 22:00, OTUSA – 22:16
Delta: ETNZ +:16
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.8 NM, OTUSA – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 32.25 knots (37 mph), OTUSA – 31.76 knots (36 mph)
Top Speed: ETNZ – 43.01 knots (49 mph), OTUSA – 44.98 knots (52 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 18.3 knots, Peak – 22.3 knots
Number of Tacks/Jibes: ETNZ – 7/7, OTUSA – 7/7
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