America's Cup Replay - Oracle closer taking Match point with vital Day 6 win

by Richard Gladwell Sail-World.com/nz 1 Jun 2018 18:51 PDT 2 June 2018

Today, June 1 (Atlantic Daylight Time) marks the sixth day of racing in the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda. To commemorate the win by Emirates Team New Zealand, Sail-World is re-running the daily content, from a variety of sources, unaltered. Emirates Team New Zealand are producing their own daily video clip, which forms part of our coverage. Sadly, 12 months later all video and still coverage from the official website, America's Cup Youtube channel and image library remain inaccessible to America's Cup fans.

America's Cup fans got a new insight into the capabilities of the Challengers and the Defender, as racing continued on Day 6 in winds that were barely above the minimum threshold for racing. All starts had the countdown clock restarted at least once as the average wind strength dropped below the prescribed the minimum 30second average of 6kts.

Emirates Team New Zealand was impressive in their match with Land Rover BAR, with the British team eventually retiring to effect repairs on a new daggerboard, before her second race of the day against Groupama Team France.

While Sir Ben Ainslie conceded a race for the first time in his illustrious sailing career, the AC50 showed little improvement over her competitor in the final race of the day. Groupama Team France led around the penultimate mark of the race, but couldn't match the British downwind as the wind increased to a whole 7.6kts average gusting to 8.7kts on the final run.

Around 7kts of breeze is sufficient for the AC50's to be able generate sufficient apparent windspeed to make an efficient course downwind. In a lesser strength of wind they are, in the words of top sailor and Race Director, Iain Murray, 'like a blunt saw.'

This was the first time Emirates Team New Zealand has been tested in light airs against other AC50's and she responded very well to the questions asked.

The Kiwis had and average breeze of less than 7kts for their race against Land Rover BAR, and went around the track in 18m 50 secs compared to the 18minutes taken by Oracle Team USA - although both courses were shortened after the start and distances were not the same.

At one point the Kiwis were doing 26kts in just over 6kts of air.

Oracle Team USA looked very good, albeit sailing in 7kts plus of breeze. However, they were led around the course by Softbank Team Japan for more than half the race after the Defender suffered a pre-start penalty from the Umpires.

Softbank skipper Dean Barker sailed well, really only losing it on the final beat when they went hard left and got out of phase with the shifts, allowing Oracle Team USA's Jimmy Spithill to pounce.

Some questioned as to whether 'team orders' might have dictated that Barker should wave training and development partner Oracle Team USA through to help tie up the America's Cup Match point that is the Defenders is they win this Qualifier round.

When questioned on whether there were team orders, Barker denied that he had let Spithill through, putting the lead change down to his decision to go left, while Spithill went right.

On reflection that is the way, it looked on the water too. Rarely on this course and wind direction has it paid to bang the left. The strength always seems to be down, and if your opponent goes right, there seems to be more pressure and a handy shift, just as a bonus.

Artemis Racing was not rostered to compete today - she has three races left - two on Saturday.

It would now seem the Land Rover BAR has sufficient points with her win today, her other two wins in the regatta and her two bonus points from the America's Cup World Series to join Emirates Team New Zealand in the play-offs.

However with unless her performance improves dramatically the erratic British will be out after the Semi-Finals - when they have to survive on race wins alone.

The other two semi-finalists will be Artemis Racing and Softbank Team Japan.

As for Oracle Team USA, the major question is whether they can eke a point out of this series to take into the America's Cup Match.

For her to miss collecting that point, she would have to lose to both Artemis Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand. Artemis Racing has her crack at the America's Cup Champions on Friday and Emirates Team New Zealand on Saturday.

Saturday also marks the last race day for Oracle Team USA as they have to sit out the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Challenger Series ahead of the America's Cup Match starting on June 17.

Official report from America's Cup Events Authority

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers burst back into action on the first day of June with all the America’s Cup teams, bar Artemis Racing, in action on the Great Sound.

Catching up with the previous day’s race schedule, postponed due to light winds, in the first race of the afternoon (Round Robin 2, race four), SoftBank Team Japan gained a much needed victory as they overcame fellow strugglers Groupama Team France.

In light winds, the Japanese team made the better start, increasing their lead when their French opponents suffered a slight nosedive early on in the run up to mark one.

Helmed by Dean Barker, SoftBank Team Japan managed to stay up on their foils in the light winds for longer periods than the French and maintained a healthy lead throughout the first race of the afternoon.

With the light winds in mind, America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM) took the decision to shorten the racecourse which meant that a victory for the Japanese team, rarely looking in doubt, was confirmed sooner than perhaps expected, as they crossed the revised finish line over five minutes ahead of Groupama Team France.

“Ultimately it was a good day for us,” said SoftBank Team Japan’s helmsman Dean Barker, whose team also suffered a defeat against Oracle Team USA leaving them on three points in the standings, a point ahead of bottom-placed Groupama Team France.

“In the first race we did a fantastic job and to get that win was great. We also led in the second race against Oracle Team USA but we made a bad decision at the fifth gate and that let them in, we just made the wrong decision.

“It was a shame not to win both races but today was an important day and it is good to gain that point buffer, but our progression is far from assured.”

Land Rover BAR’s first outing in race five proved a forgettable one for Sir Ben Ainslie’s team, as they were soundly beaten by the impressive Emirates Team New Zealand.

Having taken a welcome win over Artemis Racing on Tuesday, the British team were unable to build on the momentum of what had been only their second victory in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers. They were overtaken by their rivals in the lead to mark one and, from that point, were unable to close the gap to the Kiwis.

Things went from bad to worse for the Brits and, while jibing on leg two, they came off of their foils, touching down into the water and from that point there was to be no comeback.

In contrast, Emirates Team New Zealand were problem-free, sailing off into the distance with their lead reaching a massive six minutes and 25 seconds on the fourth leg, a full lap ahead of their British opponents.

With Land Rover BAR still out on the racecourse, Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line, leaving Sir Ben Ainslie to concede defeat over the radio to the umpires, confirming that his team were retiring from the race. In the post-race press conference, Sir Ben said that, to the best of his knowledge, that was the very first time he had retired from a race of his own volition.

“We were really happy with our racing today,” said Kiwi helmsman Peter Burling, whose team remained in second place in the standings, now on six points, assuring their progression into the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff Semi-Finals.

“The light winds made things difficult and meant a lot of effort was needed but the guys did a great job.

“It was also good to have the opportunity to race in a different condition and that allows us to keep learning about our boat.”

Oracle Team USA once again showed their pedigree in race six, as they denied SoftBank Team Japan a second win on the day, beating the Japanese team by 32 seconds.

The Defenders of the ‘Auld Mug’ had to do it the hard way however, after being handed a penalty in the pre-start sequence for not entering the entry box in time, allowing their opponents to take a healthy lead which they maintained for the first four gates.

However, despite the initial setback, Oracle Team USA remained in pursuit of SoftBank Team Japan, cutting the deficit on every passing leg.

The pressure finally told at gate five as the American team not only cut the lead completely but also passed their rivals, building to a 35 second lead in the closing stages.

It was an advantage they did not relinquish, crossing the finish line 32 seconds ahead of SoftBank Team Japan as they maintained their position at the top of the standings, moving on to seven points.

Despite already having their passage through to the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff Semi-Finals assured as the Defenders of the ‘Auld Mug’, Oracle Team USA helmsman Jimmy Spithill reiterated his desire to win these qualifying stages with a possible valuable point on offer to take into the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton.

“In difficult conditions, the guys sailed really well and we took another victory,” said Spithill.

“That bonus point on offer is key and we are definitely going for it. It is a big advantage to have it and so we will being going all out to win the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers.”

The final race of the day, race seven, proved the closest encounter with Land Rover BAR claiming a very slender victory over Groupama Team France.

Having suffered defeat to Emirates Team New Zealand in race five, Sir Ben Ainslie’s team were handed an early advantage, as the French team were handed a penalty in the pre-start sequence.

However, with light winds remaining over the racecourse, victory never looked assured for Land Rover BAR and the lead changed hands multiple times throughout the race.

However, there was real drama as the teams headed for the finish line neck and neck. In the end it was the Brits who ultimately prevailed, crossing the finish-line narrowly ahead of their rivals to claim a victory which takes them on to five points, ensuring their progression into the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff Semi-Finals.

“It has been a tough day all round and we struggled in the light-wind setup,” said Land Rover BAR helmsman Sir Ben Ainslie.

“We suffered a technical issue with the systems controlling our daggerboard against New Zealand but the guys did brilliantly to fix the issue ahead of the second race with Groupama Team France.

“We managed to hang in against Franck (Cammas) in that race and won by the smallest of margins.

“It is a relief to have got through to the next stage because that is the first goal for all the teams competing here.

“I’m very happy to be through but I’m also very mindful that there is a lot for us to improve on.

“There is still a long way for us to go and so unfortunately there will be no party for us tonight.”

While Land Rover BAR have secured their progression through to the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoff Semi-Finals, Groupama Team France in contrast, remain precariously on a knife edge, needing to win both of their remaining Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers races to stand a chance of progression.

“There is definitely a lot of pressure on us,” conceded Franck Cammas, Groupama Team France helmsman.

“Things are looking very tough but we are still alive and will do the best we can.

“We will make it through? I’m not sure but we will keep fighting and so we will see.”

Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers Round Robin 2 race results:

• Race 4: SoftBank Team Japan beat Groupama Team France (Groupama team France DNF)
• Race 5: Emirates Team New Zealand beat Land Rover BAR (Land Rover BAR retired)
• Race 6: Oracle Team USA beat SoftBank Team Japan by 32 seconds
• Race 7: Land Rover BAR beat Groupama Team France by 23 seconds