America's Cup Replay: Champion has second race loss on Day 7

by Richard Gladwell 3 Jun 2018 01:55 PDT 3 June 2018

Today, June 2 (Atlantic Daylight Time) marks the seventh 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.

The number '7' is lucky for some.

On Bermuda's Great Sound, on Day 7 of the America's Cup Qualifiers it was more than lucky for Emirates Team New Zealand, winning two races in fine style and going to the top of the points table.

The America's Cup Champion Oracle Team USA broke a rudder while training, on the Great Sound, and had to hurriedly return to the team's base in the Royal Dockyard, fit a replacement and then go out and race.

Whether the failure was structural, or a turtle strike is not known. The sand coloured creatures are relatively common on the race course and pre-start area - ranging in size from small to substantial. They come up to breathe stay on the surface for a few minutes and then dive. Turtles and AC50's are not a good mix.

To add to Oracle's woes, they were beaten by Artemis Racing, and now have two losses in the series. The team that is on everyone's lips, Emirates Team New Zealand has only lost one race - and that was their first encounter with the America's Cup Champion - and in that race, the Kiwis led, before being passed at the top of the final beat.

Today it was champagne sailing conditions for the America's Cup crews.

Bright sun, lovely whitecapped water, and a breeze in the 14-18kt range - close to the maximum speed for the AC50's - but only one skipper would respond with their top speed when asked at the media conference.

On the water, the AC50's were flying with plenty of very fine high-speed spray, almost a mist in the rooster trail left by the flying catamarans.

Emirates Team New Zealand set another benchmark today being the first to be credited with sailing a 'dry' course- meaning they sailed the course without a single splashdown.

When asked the significance of this achievement, Kiwi helmsman Peter Burling, said he was surprised that it hadn't been achieved before and that he expected everyone would be doing it before long.

Day 7 was a lucky day for the unlucky Artemis Racing. Skipper Nathan Outteridge took to Oracle Team USA's Jimmy Spithill in the prestart and left the two-time America's Cup champion struggling in his wake. Artemis was sailing impressively in the testing conditions, and most would expect the Challenger Final to be between Emirates Team New Zealand and Artemis Racing.

Artemis Racing's win was significant that it was over the Defender, but it also altered the points table regarding the possibility of Oracle Team USA taking a point in the America's Cup Match.

Now that they are on equal points with Emirates Team New Zealand, tomorrow's final day of racing in the Round Robin and Qualifiers, it is a must win situation for Oracle Team USA if they are to secure the point.

After racing was over for the day, Oracle Team USA went back out on the Great Sound for more practice and testing, and are still out as this report is being written at 1800hrs.

Tomorrow marks the last racing with the Challengers in which Oracle will participate before the Match. When questioned in tonights Media Conference on their plans for the next two weeks, Spithill said that they had a lot of developments to put on the boat, with the clear implication that they expected to be sailing much faster than at present.

All the top teams are in the same situation, but with Emirates Team New Zealand appearing to be the coolest and with controlled confidence that changes made were advancing the performance of the boat.

Others may well be in the same situation, however, they also have to deal with inconsistent on the water race performance with crewing errors being openly admitted as being a work in progress.

While the media searches for reasons for good and poor performance, maybe the name tags on the top table at the Media Conference gives a pointer. Peter Burling is the only one with just the simple title of helmsman - the others wear two hats, and some wear three.

Groupama Team France will exit the America's Cup at the end of the Round Robin phase. Skipper Franck Cammas was philosophical at the Media Conference as to being the first to exit. For the French, their exit was touted widely at the start of the regatta. However two good race wins over Land Rover BAR, and the fancied Artemis Racing gave the team a lot of confidence and earned the respect of Cup fans.

Sadly for the French, they ran out of time, but they will be joined by two others at the end of the Semi-Finals.

Quite when that will be is in the hands of the Weather Gods with strong winds being forecast for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

The first round of the Semi-Finals is due to start on Sunday with Emirates Team NZ having the choice of opponent - most likely to be Land Rover BAR. The latter get their position on the points table through their two points gained from the preliminary America's Cup World Series and not for their exploits on the Great Sound.

Official Report - Day 7:Groupama Team France first to go out of the 35th America's Cup

Groupama Team France will not progress to the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs after losing today (2nd June) to Emirates Team New Zealand. However, according to Helmsman Franck Cammas, the team will leave with a "smile" on their faces after their final race of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers on Saturday 3rd June.

Heading into today's Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers Round Robin 2 race against Emirates Team New Zealand, the French team, on two points at the bottom of the standings, knew they had to win to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs.

It was a challenge Groupama Team France could not rise to, with defeat confirming that they will not progress from the first round of competition in the 35th America's Cup.

However, after exceeding the expectations of many, and their own, and enjoying the highs of upsetting both Artemis Racing and Land Rover BAR, much to the delight of the whole team, Groupama Team France have one race left. They face Artemis Racing in Round Robin 2, race 14, and will then leave this cycle of the America's Cup with their pride fully intact.

"We are all extremely proud of the work we have done throughout this America's Cup," said Cammas.

"Standing here after where we were, even two weeks ago, we have definitely finished with a smile on our faces.

"My feeling is as expected really because we didn't have big expectations at the start. "I am really happy with the whole team and I am proud of everything we have managed to achieve."

In the first race of the day (Round Robin 2, race 8), Emirates Team New Zealand again showed their pedigree with a near perfect performance, easily overcoming SoftBank Team Japan.

The Kiwis, who came into the day sitting second in the standings, just a point behind Oracle Team USA, started the race in the best possible fashion, timing their pre-start perfectly to out-manoeuvre the Japanese team and race clear of their rivals from the start line.

SoftBank Team Japan's pursuit of the Kiwis was a dealt a blow on leg 3/7 as they suffered a big nosedive while attempting a tack, allowing Emirates Team New Zealand to extend their lead to 23 seconds by the third gate.

It was a lead Peter Burling and his team would not relinquish, sailing magnificently and staying up on their foils for an incredible 99.6% of the whole race, finally easing over the finish line 51 seconds ahead of their Japanese rivals.

The Defenders of the 'Auld Mug', Oracle Team USA, took to the water in race 9, but it was their opponents Artemis Racing who claimed the spoils with a pivotal victory in the Swedish team's aims of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs.

Heading into the encounter on just two points, the same amount as bottom-placed Groupama Team France, Artemis Racing knew victory in their two scheduled races today would guarantee their progress from the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers.

A perfect pre-start enhanced their chances of victory as they raced clear of Oracle Team USA heading towards the first mark.

One of Artemis Racing's two victories in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers prior to the race had come against Oracle Team USA and building on their early lead from the start line, they ultimately repeated that feat, never giving up the lead as Oracle Team USA had no response in their pursuit.

Remaining calm, particularly following a slight nosedive on leg 5, Artemis Racing recovered quickly to cross the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Oracle Team USA.

The victory took them on to three points in the standings, which followed by Groupama Team France's crucial defeat, proved enough to seal their progression into the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs.

"Today was redemption day for us," said Artemis Racing helmsman Nathan Outteridge on his team's vastly improved performances.

"Before today, we had some serious talks amongst ourselves about everything because we had gone from performing really well in practice races to having to question being able to qualify. (for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs).

"We took a step back to see what needed improving and I felt we saw those improvements today."

That victory for Artemis Racing piled the pressure on Groupama Team France ahead of their battle against the high-flying Emirates Team New Zealand in the very next race (race 10). Franck Cammas' team knew they had to win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs alive.

However, it was a challenge Groupama Team France could not overcome as their Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers challenge ended following a disappointing defeat. Groupama Team France have one race left, against Artemis Racing in Round Robin 2, race 14, but the results today mean they cannot progress into the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs.

Ultimately, they failed to muster a strong challenge against the ever-impressive Emirates Team New Zealand, who led from start to finish in what proved a faultless display, finally crossing the line four minutes and six seconds ahead of the French team.

Not only did Emirates Team New Zealand manage to become the first team to complete an entire race on their foils, but in claiming a second victory of the day, they moved on to eight points in the standings which sees them move above Oracle Team USA for the first time. Additionally, the Kiwis became the first team to complete a race whilst staying on their foils 100% of the time around the racecourse.

"The boys all floated the idea of being able to foil for an entire race, It is always the goal and I'm delighted we managed to achieve that," said Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling, who face Oracle Team USA in a showdown for top spot in the standings tomorrow (Saturday).

"We are all really happy to be top of the standings. Everyone in the team has worked really hard and we have executed our races really well.

"I'm really excited for the race against Oracle Team USA tomorrow. It is a big race for us and it will be great to test ourselves under the pressure."

Meanwhile, Oracle Team USA's Jimmy Spithill is relishing the monumental battle that lies ahead against their Kiwi rivals.

"It is a big one tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it," said Spithill.

"Being in a position where if we beat the Kiwis we get the bonus point is nice.

"We are all really pumped up for that one, it will be one hell of a race."

After enjoying a morale-boosting victory over Oracle Team USA in race 9, and having their progress into the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs confirmed following Groupama Team France's defeat to Emirates Team New Zealand, Artemis Racing claimed a second consecutive win of the day by overcoming SoftBank Team Japan in Friday's final race (Race 11).