America's Cup- Emirates Team NZ have a win and a loss

by Warren Douglas on 10 Sep 2013
It was a great day on the water for both teams; a win each and yacht racing that people will remember for years.

The upwind action in both races was intense – just as it was for the first race the day before. It was thrilling for spectators, punishing for the crews. But it was fast, close, boat-on-boat action - match racing in every way and until yesterday a missing ingredient at the 34th America’s Cup.

NZL5 came from behind to win the the first race to go 3-0 up after trailing Oracle around the first two marks and overtaking on the beat.

NZL5 was chasing hard. A tacking duel followed – 10 tacks in all – that New Zealand took out to the boundary and finally slid past when Oracle was forced to tack away.

Both boats tacked 10 times, a massive workload for those on the winch handles.

Barker was untroubled as he swept to the finish line, crossing 28s ahead of Oracle.

Barker and crew could not repeat the performamce in the second race but came agonisingly close to doing so. The started slightly behind and Oracle led to the second mark with NZL5 close behind.

Once again a tacking duel followed – nine tacks for Emirates Team New Zealand as they attacked and attacked again – and six for Oracle. Oracle defended well and led to the finish.

But this was a close race. Oracle’s winning delta was only 7s.

At the end of the day the scoreline was NZL 3, USA 0. Oracle's win cancels one of the two-point deficit imposed by the jury.

Today the wind averaged 16-17 knots with gusts to 20 in race 3 and 18-20 with gusts to 23.5 knots in race 4.



Race 3 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/9.94 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 25:00, OTUSA – 25:28
Delta: ETNZ +:28
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.8 NM, OTUSA – 12.1 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 28.57 knots (33 mph), OTUSA – 28.62 knots (33 mph)
Top Speed: ETNZ – 42.25 knots (49 mph), OTUSA – 41.37 knots (48 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16.8 knots, Peak – 19.3 knots

Race 4 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/9.94 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 22:42, ETNZ – 22:50
Delta: OTUSA +:08
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.7 NM, ETNZ – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 30.99 knots (36 mph), ETNZ – 30.92 knots (36 mph)
Top Speed: OTUSA – 45.97 knots (53 mph), ETNZ – 44.98 knots (52 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 19.5 knots, Peak – 23.3 knots

Race schedule (SF dates and times)
Tuesday September 10
Race 5 – 1.10pm
Race 6 – 2.10pm
Thursday September 12
Race 7 – 1.10pm
Race 8 – 2.10pm