Emirates Team New Zealand update - Big gains and big losses

Today’s pictures are  here; the video here

September 22 2013

Big gains and big losses. That was the story of Day 12 of the America’s Cup match at San Francisco.

It was not New Zealand’s day, losing both races sailed. NZL5 came so close to overtaking Oracle on at least four occasions but Oracle managed to slip away.

Both starts were even but Oracle was able to luff NZ wide at the first mark forcing Dean Barker and crew to play catch-up.

They threw attack after attack in both races; harried and put on the pressure twice closing the gap from 300m to almost zero and once from 700m.

The deltas were 23s in race 14, 37s in race 15.

Barker said it was always going to be a difficult day with big variations in wind at the top and bottom of the course. It was patchy and there were a lot of shifts. Two starboard start-box entries didn't help."

Barker said Oracle sailed really well, managing the first downwind legs well, establishing good leads. "We gave them opportunities we should not have done. We fought back, got close at times, but it was Oracle's day."

Emirates Team New Zealand sits on match point, needing one win to take the America's Cup. Oracle needs to win four more.

Standings (first to 9 points wins)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 8
ORACLE TEAM USA – 5

Race 15 performance data
Course: 5 Legs/10.22 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 27:34, ETNZ – 28:11
Delta: OTUSA +:37
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 12.0 NM, ETNZ – 11.9 NM
Average speed: OTUSA – 26.23 knots (30 mph), ETNZ – 25.40 knots (29 mph)
Top speed: OTUSA – 41.80 knots (48 mph), ETNZ – 40.35 knots (46 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 12.9 knots, Peak – 18.0 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: OTUSA – 7/7, ETNZ – 7/9

Race 14 performance data
Course: 5 Legs/10.22 nautical miles
Elapsed time: OTUSA – 33:47, ETNZ – 34:10
Delta: OTUSA +:23
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 12.8 NM, ETNZ – 13.1 NM
Average speed: OTUSA – 23.31 knots (27 mph), ETNZ – 22.58 knots (26 mph)
Top speed: OTUSA – 36.60 knots (42 mph), ETNZ – 35.41 knots (41 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 11.4 knots, Peak – 14.9 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: OTUSA – 8/12, ETNZ – 8/12

ENDS

© Scoop Media