America's Cup Day 7 - Wind up but on the course regardless

Oracle Team USA - 34th America’s Cup ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

San Francisco (USA,CA) - 34th America’s Cup - on board Regardless © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

With a weather forecast anticipating winds gusting up to 28 knots coupled with a strong ebb tide, the prospect for racing today is questionable.

Regatta Director Iain Murray put today’s forecast in simple terms at his morning briefing. 'This is the strongest current day we’ve had all summer. This is getting up towards the day that Oracle Team USA had its difficulty last October,' said Murray.

'For a long time we’ve known that this would be the toughest tide day. It’s a strong ebb at 2.9 knots (for Race 11) and 2.7 (for Race 12), so we have a low wind limit, 20.1 knots and 20.3 knots for the two races,' said Murray. 'Just to compliment the day we have our strongest wind forecast. The committee boat will set up on station and we’ll monitor the situation. We thought it would be tough on Sunday but we got two races in, so fingers crossed.'

Oracle Team USA Crew List
Skipper: Jimmy Spithill (9), Tactician: Ben Ainslie (12), Strategist: Tom Slingsby (10), Wing trimmer: Kyle Langford (8), Jib trimmer: Joe Newton (5), Off-side trimmer: Rome Kirby (4), Grinders: Shannon Falcone (1), Joe Spooner (2), Jono MacBeth (3), Gillo Nobili (6), Simeon Tienpont (7)

Emirates Team New Zealand Crew List
Skipper/helmsman: Dean Barker (14), Tactician: Ray Davies (10), Wing Trimmer: Glenn Ashby (3), Trimmer: James Dagg (9), Bow: Adam Beashel (2), Pit: Jeremy Lomas (8), Pedestal 1: Chris Ward (7), Pedestal 2: Rob Waddell (11), Pedestal 3: Grant Dalton (6), Pedestal 4: Chris McAsey (5), Float/Grinder: Derek Saward (12)

Today in America’s Cup history

September 17 is notable on many instances in America’s Cup history, particularly in 1974:

1930, Race 3, Shamrock V vs. Enterprise – Enterprise wins and Shamrock V fails finish the race. The third race was a disaster for Shamrock V, despite winning the start her main halyard parted on the first leg and she lost her mainsail, leaving Enterprise to continue the course and finish alone to collect its third win in a first-to-four series

1934, Race 1, Endeavour vs. Rainbow – Endeavour wins by 2:09. The New York Yacht Club Race Committee exercised discretion and delayed the start for 15 minutes to allow an injured crewman aboard Endeavour to be recovered after injuring himself while up the mast trying to free a halyard. Endeavour started well and was slightly ahead of Rainbow, but Rainbow rounded the mark 18 seconds ahead. Endeavour was clearly the faster down wind and she passed Rainbow to windward 20 minutes after rounding the mark.

1964, Race 2, Sovereign vs. Constellation – Constellation wins by 20:24 the largest winning margin in the 12-Meter era.

1974, Race 4, Southern Cross vs. Courageous – Courageous wins by 7:19 and successfully defends the America’s Cup. It was Dennis Conner’s introduction to an America’s Cup match as a starting helmsman under Skipper Bob Bavier. Conner brought his trademark aggressive starting tactics, which led Alan Bond to complain, 'We are fearful that fouling and striking tactics will be introduced to America’s Cup starts… We deplore this approach, which is degrading to the dignity and prestige of the America’s Cup as one of the world’s most important sporting events, and we are most concerned that this style of racing could be condoned by the NYYC… Apart from unsportsmanlike nature of this approach there is a definite element of danger to the safety of the crews and boats by the adoption of rodeo tactics afloat.'

1977, Race 3, Australia vs. Courageous – Courageous wins by 2:32.

1983, Race 3, Australia II vs. Liberty – The race was abandoned in light winds with Australia II ahead.

2011 – Emirates Team New Zealand wins the America’s Cup World Series Plymouth AC45 match race regatta.