2015 Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series - Race highlights
by Jack Griffin on 3 Aug 2015
2015 Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Portsmouth Jack Griffin
When asked about the strange angles he got into, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill said, 'I'll tell you, we're just hanging on really. You're on the edge of control. It's very difficult. Mistakes get made, but that's what you want, you want it to be difficult. The good guys get it right.'
Artemis Racing had bad luck when their code zero halyard lock released in Race two. They lost time as they struggled to get the sail under control and on board, dropping to last place in the race and in the event.
At the final mark in Race one Oracle Team USA came in with speed on port gybe and sailed past Emirates Team New Zealand, who had to gybe from starboard to port in order to round. Both boats protested, but the umpires signalled 'no penalty.' In this situation, the inside boat, ETNZ was entitled to room to round the mark. The boats did not touch, so clearly OTUSA gave ETNZ room. The America's Cup version of the rule for room at a mark is very different from the normal Racing Rules of Sailing. I explain it here and give another example of this rule here.
View from on board Emirates Team New Zealand during the incident at Mark six in Race one. You can see that ETNZ is still on starboard gybe, but Peter Burling has pulled the helm to gybe.
Oracle Team USA started Race two with some excitement when Groupama Team France luffed them at the start, giving OTUSA a penalty. OTUSA then fought back to finish fourth in the race and third for the event.
Oracle Team USA with a penalty they picked up at the start of Race two.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge awarded the prizes.
Ben Ainslie receiving the trophy for winning the event from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR team won the shortened Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Portsmouth event with a first and a second in Saturday's racing. Winds over 30 knots and rough conditions caused Sunday's racing to be abandoned.
Racing on their home waters and with more time in this type of boat than the other teams, Land Rover BAR showed sharp crew work and good tactics to win the opening race and then fight back from the middle of the pack to post a second in the day's second race. Emirates Team New Zealand and new helmsman Peter Burling also looked impressive, winning the second race and coming in third in the first.
Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Portsmouth – Results
1. Land Rover BAR (1, 2)
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (3, 1)
3. Oracle Team USA (2, 4)
4. Groupama Team France (6, 3)
5. Softbank Team Japan (4, 5)
6. Artemis Racing (5, 6)
Remember that these races count, and could even determine the winner of the America's Cup Match in 2017! Standings in the LVACWS will be used to break ties at the end of the round robin series, and could determine which team begins the match with one point.
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