America's Cup Race 14 - New Zealand expects – disappointment again

by Sail-World.com on 23 Sep 2013 Deep into this America's Cup, Oracle Team USA seem to be the faster boat, with a double tag brains trust with Sir Ben Ainslie and Tom Slingsby making good calls around the track.

But with Emirates Team New Zealand having already established a big lead, after penalties 8-3, four million Kiwis are expecting a win today.

Light winds 13 knots, the end of the flood tide. Oracle into the box, a time on distance start. Oracle took Emirates away from the mark, then accelerated a six second lead at the first mark.

USA downwind was faster and stretching away. A gybe and more of the same. The Americans were gaining at every gybe. Oracle were covering Emirates at every gybe and they were stretching away. Soon 300 metres ahead. At the bottom mark, the delta was 24 seconds.

Upwind the Americans were looking for tidal relief behind Alcatraz. The Kiwis were going inshore but headed back toward the island.

Up the course, the lead was shrinking, down from 300 metres to 50 metres. A slow tack from the Kiwis out on the right and they lost some ground, but the Americans had worse current.

Close to the top of the course on the cross, Kiwis behind by three lengths.

An extra tack from Oracle as they set up for a fast downwind just 15 seconds behind at the top mark, 250 metres behind.

Oracle has gone offshore. Fast down the course. A slow tack in light conditions on the shore line from Oracle and the race closes up.

But New Zealand now inshore loses ground. Ainslie and Slingsby were belting Ray Davies across the course. The 40 minute time limitit was looming as Oracle Team USA headed for mark four. Oracle Team USA rounded Mark 4 at 35 knots, with a lead of 20 seconds.

Oracle Team USA stormed to a great win. Emirate Team New Zealand 23 seconds behind.

On the water its 8-6, after penalties its 8-4

Light enough conditions, race 15 ahead.

Ben Ainslie ‘The run got dicier as the wind got lighter and lighter. A tough race.’

Ray Davies – ‘It was a dying breeze with leader advantaged. ‘