Emirates Team New Zealand go down to BMW Oracle

by Oracle Media on 29 Apr 2007
The final match of the opening round of the Louis Vuitton Cup has always been billed as the clash of the titans and it lived up to its billing with BMW ORACLE Racing scoring a decisive win over Emirates Team New Zealand – which sealed top place in the round to USA 98.

It was a match of dramatically changing fortunes.

In the pre-start, skipper Chris Dickson and the USA 98 crew managed to herd Emirates Team New Zealand over the line early and shepherd them out beyond the pin end of the line. As the two yachts circled back to the start area, however, NZL 92 managed to accelerate over the top of USA 98.

Suddenly the tables were turned and USA 98 trailed off the startline with Emirates Team New Zealand romping to an early four-boatlength advantage.

Up the first windward leg, USA 98 hung in and, towards the top of the leg, started to make big gains over NZL 92. By the windward mark rounding, USA 98 was going fast and breathing right down the neck of the yacht ahead.

The official delta at the first mark gave it to Emirates Team New Zealand by just 3 seconds, but the telling part of the equation was that USA 98 was able to sail around and onto the wind of yacht ahead.

After a short drag race with both yachts neck and neck charging downwind, Emirates Team New Zealand was the first to gybe away. USA 98 held to its convictions and continued on port gybe, making big gains. At the leeward mark rounding USA 98 was leading by 24 seconds.

Up the second windward leg, USA 98 covered every move by its opponents and, after a 19-tack battle had extended to a 43 second margin.

On the final run to the finish, USA 98 gave no quarter and crossed the line with a 35 second lead over NZL 92.