34th America's Cup - Race 8
by Emirates Team New Zealand & ORACLE TEAM USA 15 Sep 2013 20:06 NZST
14 September 2013
ORACLE TEAM USA records second win (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
ORACLE TEAM USA captured its second win of the 34th America's Cup on Saturday in San Francisco. Skipper Jimmy Spithill and crew crossed the line 52 seconds ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand in the lone race of the day – Race 8 of the regatta – after Race 9 was abandoned due to high winds.
"It's the first time upwind we felt really competitive," said tactician Tom Slingsby. "Our tacks were better, we felt like we were sailing the shifts a bit better, and obviously the speed was better. We made a couple changes to the boat yesterday, and they seem to have been good steps. We're really encouraged."
With winds blowing 18-20 knots, Emirates New Zealand jumped in front off the start of Race 8. ORACLE TEAM USA kept close, splitting the second gate 8 seconds back. Mid way up the third leg, New Zealand nearly capsized. As Spithill and crew were closing in on starboard tack, they were able to capitalize and move in front. ORACLE TEAM USA extended the lead to win the race by 52 seconds.
Race 9 got underway, but during the third leg it was abandoned when wind speeds reached the limit.
"Today, to come from behind on the upwind leg, was a big boost for the guys," said Spithill. "The design team, the engineering team, the shore team, all worked very, very hard yesterday and they were rewarded with the win. It's exactly what we needed. We're going to work all night again, and we'll come out tomorrow ready to try to step it up once more."
On Sunday, the teams will be back on the course with a restart of Race 9, followed by Race 10. Racing begins at 1:15 pm PT and 2:15 pm PT.
Emirates Team New Zealand maintains a 6-0 series lead in points, and is in front 6-2 in wins. ORACLE TEAM USA needs nine more wins while New Zealand needs three to win the 34th America's Cup.
Upwind drama costs a race (from Warren Douglas, Emirates Team New Zealand)
Emirates Team New Zealand has lost race 8 of the America's Cup match. Drama on the upwind leg 3, in which NZL5 looked perilously close to a capsize, cost New Zealand the race.
Race 9, which was delayed for 15 minutes because the wind was over the limit, was abandoned early on leg three when the wind exceeded 23 knots for a 5 min period.
New Zealand had a handy lead at the time. In fact, New Zealand controlled both races – race 8 until an hydraulic problem as they were going through a lee-bow tack let Oracle sail past and on race 9 NZL5 was leading upwind when the race was called off.
Barker and crew was away first on both starts, led around the first and second marks twice. That was the game plan and it worked as it was supposed to until the tack and the breeze intervened.
Barker said after race 8: "That's what happens when the wing doesn't tack, but the boat does."
"We had a pretty good tussle with Oracle. At the top of the upwind leg it was a marginal cross. The call to tack to leeward was a bit rushed and we missed the hydraulics.
"The wing sucked the boat over. Fortunately the guys continued grinding and the wing tacked. It was as close as we have ever been to going on our side.
"That one mistake cost us the race and came close to costing more than that. Some one was looking down at us today.
It was the closest we have been to a capsize in the AC72 but we have been there plenty of times in the AC45."
Barker said: "These boats demand a huge amount of respect. Everyone on the boat has that respect. We don't think the boats are dangerous. You have to be competitive and on your game."
After race 9 was abandoned, tactician Ray Davies said: "We were in pretty good shape; it would have been nice to finish it."
Barker added: "The limits are the limits and we respect that. We felt we were in a good spot during race 9 and it would have been interesting."
Emirates Team New Zealand remains on eight points. Oracle, with two wins, has wiped the two-point penalty imposed by the jury. Oracle needs nine wins to retain the America's Cup; Emirates Team New Zealand needs three.
Race 8 performance data:
Course: 5 Legs/10.16 nautical miles
Elapsed time: OTUSA – 23:09, ETNZ – 24:01
Delta: OTUSA +:52
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.4 NM, ETNZ – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 29.90 knots (34 mph), ETNZ – 29.32 knots (34 mph)
Top speed: OTUSA – 44.58 knots (51 mph), ETNZ – 47.02 knots (54 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16.6 knots, Peak – 19.6 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: OTUSA – 8/8, ETNZ – 9/7