Please select your home edition
Edition
Excess Catamarans

America's Cup - Oracle Team USA on the significance of a botched tack

by Sail-World.com on 29 Dec 2016
Oracle Team USA sailing their AC45S in Bermuda, mid-November 2016 Sam Greenfield/Oracle Team USA http://www.oracleteamusa.com
Last April, Softbank Team Japan were the first of the America's Cup teams to perform a successful foiling tack in their AC45S.

A few days later their training buddies, the Defender, Oracle Team USA followed suit in Bermuda.

Now over six months down the track, the foiling tack has become de rigeur for the America's Cup teams.

In this video from Oracle Team USA, the team traces the history of the foiling tack and claim that a missed foiling tack could be the difference between winning an America's Cup race - same as a missed foiling gybe had major repercussions in the 34th America's Cup sailed in AC72's.

The Game Changer: Foiling Tack

Flying the course! It was all cheers when the team started foil-tacking upwind in April. It's a game changer and one of the more exciting moments of 2016 in our countdown to Christmas. "It’s very likely that the boat that can make it around the racecourse without touching the water will win this America's Cup," said tactician/sailing team manager Tom Slingsby. We hope you enjoy this moment and are having a great holiday season. #RaceToBermuda
Video by Sam Greenfield / ORACLE TEAM USA

Posted by ORACLE TEAM USA on Saturday, December 24, 2016
Sea Sure 2025Festival of Sails 2026Vaikobi 2025 Black Friday

Related Articles

Ken Read on his recent induction into the NSHOF
Ken Read on his recent induction into the National Sailing Hall of Fame Eighteen years is a long time, but I can still recall the sounds of carbon-fiber skins grinding on each other aboard PUMA's Volvo Open 70 Avanti as we pound into small chop on the waters of Block Island Sound.
Posted today at 4:00 pm Predictwind A-Class Catamaran Worlds - Day 1
Several of the world's top catamaran sailors resumed battle on a challenging Day 1. Several of the world's top catamaran sailors resumed battle on a challenging Day 1 of the Predictwind A-Class Catamaran World Championships.
Posted today at 11:53 am World Sailing Annual Conference praised as success
The General Assembly was the last meeting of the 2025 World Sailing Conference. World Sailing President Quanhai Li and World Sailing CEO David Graham have praised the success of the 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference, a week which culminated in the election of two female Vice Presidents to deliver a gender-balanced Board.
Posted today at 10:16 am Predictwind A-Class Catamaran World Championships
Here's how to follow the racing at the Predictwind A-Class Worlds on live video and race trackers. The Predictwind A-Class Catamaran World Championships are underway off Milford Beach. Here's how you can follow the racing on live video and race trackers.
Posted on 10 Nov WASZP All-Stars Invitational
Where the Best WASZP Sailors Rise! Being named an All-Star is a statement: you're one of the best. Earn your place. Make your mark. Become a WASZP All-Star.
Posted on 10 Nov America's Cup: Kiwis fire up AC40
After what felt like a quiet year of preparation, Emirates Team New Zealand has roared back to life After what felt like a quiet year of preparation, Emirates Team New Zealand has roared back to life. The America's Cup Defenders are back out on the water, back in rhythm, and back on the road to the 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 10 Nov All set at the PredictWind A-Class Cat Worlds 2025
The practice is over and all is set for the main event in New Zealand The practising is over at the PredictWind A-Cat Worlds, and the race committees are tuned like fine violins. The wonderful volunteer shore crews are poised like greyhounds in the slips, for it's 'all stations to general quarters!', on Tuesday.
Posted on 10 Nov Barco Brasil take the 'Sharps' lead
In the Globe40 at Reunion Island The Brazilian competitor BARCO BRASIL (Class40 151) crossed the finish line in Saint Paul Bay on Reunion Island yesterday at 05:47 UTC after 36 days, 14 hours, and 47 minutes of racing from Cape Verde in this second leg of the GLOBE40.
Posted on 9 Nov 18ft Skiff SIXT Spring Championship Race 5
World champion Yandoo team faultless in the 20-knot southerly winds 2025 JJ Giltinan world champion Yandoo team of Tom Needham, Fang Warren and Lewis Brake were faultless in the 20-knot southerly winds which swept across Sydney Harbour, as they powered their skiff to a brilliant near-all-the-way victory.
Posted on 9 Nov 50% off Vaikobi VCOLD Base Layer Top!
Vaikobi's best-selling thermal top of all time! Vaikobi's best-selling thermal top of all time! Super light hollow yarn, moisture-wicking fleece, super soft cozy feeling, won't overheat, quick-drying, UV50+.
Posted on 9 Nov
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2025 Sail-World Sail-World Australia and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy