34th America's Cup - Races 6 & 7
by Emirates Team New Zealand & ORACLE TEAM USA 13 Sep 2013 16:53 AEST
12 September 2013
Emirates Team New Zealand's upwind speed, and Ray Davies tactical calls for positioning going into the beat, are proving to be the key in the 34th America's Cup match.
A come-from-behind 44 second win for the Kiwis in race 6, was followed by a dominant performance throughout race 7 to leave ORACLE TEAM USA trailing 0-6 and Emirates Team New Zealand needing just 3 more wins to lift the America's Cup.
Upwind speed makes the difference (from Emirates Team New Zealand)
Emirates Team New Zealand won both races against Oracle on San Francisco Bay today and now has six points from seven races.
The first race was a light-air thriller.The breeze average 11.6 knots and struggled to get up to 13knots. Oracle got the better of the start and led around the first and second marks.
Playing to NZL5's strengths – a speed edge upwind and precision crew work through the tacks - Dean Barker and crew engineered a split at the second mark and immediately forced a tacking duel and started grinding down Oracle's lead.
Once in front, Barker didn't look back and finished comfortably ahead. The delta was 47s.
After the race, Dean admitted he had apologised to the crew for the bad start. "I was asleep but the guys got back on the job."
There was no need for an apology for the start on the second race today. NZL5 led from start to finish in the and once again showed its dominace up-wind. The delta was 1m6s. The wind was up to a steady 16-18 knots.
Today's racing tested both teams. Strain showed on grinders' faces as they engaged in tacking duels. Fourteen tacks on leg three of the first race (15 for Oracle) seven on the second (10 for Oracle).
Wing trimmer Glenn Ashby told the after-race press conference:
"We have to push the boat as hard as we can. These boats chew the big boys (grinders) up and spit them out.
"The big boys are worth their weight in gold. All those tacks require 110% effort. The key is good teamwork and to not to get flustered when tired."
Emirates Team New Zealand now has six wins to Oracle's one. The first team to win nine races will win the America's Cup.
Barker added: "It feels great to win six races; we are two thirds of the way there, but to win the cup we need to win nine. Three races are a lot of hard work, one bad day and things can change.
"I know there is huge support back home. This motivates the guys to dig deeper and race harder. Right now we are focused on the three races to go."
ORACLE TEAM USA to "fight the whole way" (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
The 34th America's Cup continued on Thursday with races No. 6 and 7 of the regatta in San Francisco. ORACLE TEAM USA started strong in the first race, but Emirates Team New Zealand gained the edge in both races to take two points and extend their overall lead.
"We're going to fight the whole way. We're going to go at every single race thinking we can win – we have to, and we believe that," said skipper Jimmy Spithill. "We're going to have to be pretty aggressive now and obviously push as hard as we can. We know if we sail well out there we can win races."
In Race 6, the first race of the day, ORACLE TEAM USA once again took control off the start. The crew maintained the advantage on the first downwind leg, rounding the second mark 12 seconds in front. With another tacking battle on the third leg, New Zealand pulled ahead and held on to win by 47 seconds.
The second race of the day saw New Zealand take the early lead, a position they did not relinquish. ORACLE TEAM USA crossed the line 1:06 back.
"We're just taking it one race at a time," said wing trimmer Kyle Langford. "The first race today we felt like we did a good job – we dominated the start and led around the bottom mark. Now we need to stay focused and be ready for the next race day."
New Zealand currently leads the series 6-0 in points and 6-1 in wins. The next race day is Saturday when races No. 8 and 9 of the match begin at 1:15 pm PT and 2:15 pm PT, respectively.
Race 6 Performance Data:
- Course: 5 Legs/10.14 nautical miles
- Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 31:39, OTUSA – 32:26
- Delta: ETNZ +:47
- Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 12.3 NM, OTUSA – 12.3 NM
- Average Speed: ETNZ – 23.43 knots (27 mph), OTUSA – 22.91 knots (26 mph)
- Top Speed: ETNZ – 38.55 knots (44 mph), OTUSA – 40.21 knots (46 mph)
- Windspeed: Average – 11.6 knots, Peak – 13.4 knots
Race 7 Performance Data:
- Course: 5 Legs/10.14 nautical miles
- Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 24:48, OTUSA – 25:54
- Delta: ETNZ +1:06
- Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.6 NM, OTUSA – 12.0 NM
- Average Speed: ETNZ – 28.32 knots (32 mph), OTUSA – 27.86 knots (32 mph)
- Top Speed: ETNZ – 44.73 knots (51 mph), OTUSA – 41.00 knots (47 mph)
- Windspeed: Average – 16.3 knots, Peak – 17.8 knots
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