Issue date
Emirates Team New Zealand pulled off a great last leg in race 11 of the America’s Cup match, fighting off determined Oracle attacks both up and downwind to finish 15 seconds ahead.
Today’s pictures are here, the video is here
The wind and strong ebb tide conspired to postpone race 12 until tomorrow. With the race about to start and the yachts well engaged in pre-start manoeuvres, officials called a halt because the wind exceeded the 20-knot limit mandated by the three-knot ebb tide.
The boats seemed oblivious to the call and completed the pre-start and raced to the first mark.
In Race 11 Barker won the start after luffing Oracle on the final approach and slowing the action to the line; then Barker pulled the trigger and crossed the line with ahead. Oracle chased hard down the reach and it was close at the first mark - only 3s separated the two.
It was close all the way downwind, with New Zealand holding on and rounding mark 2 with a 6s advantage.
In the crucial upwind leg three, NZL5 was under pressure but managed to round the third mark with the lead intact. The beat did not produce the tension of race 10, when the yachts traded the lead several times, but it was more of the close-quarter action and, with 10 tacks, old-style match racing.
But there was no getting around New Zealand. No mistakes, smooth manoeuvres and good boat speed prevailed.
Downwind on leg 4, Oracle gained a lot of ground but had to gybe to get around the mark, giving NZL5 some breathing space. Barker finished 15s in front.
First team to nine points wins the America’s Cup. At the end of today the scoreboard was ETNZ eight points, Oracle one..
After the race, Barker was asked about NZL5’s improved upwind performance after a couple of days with Oracle seeming to have an edge. “We are not sitting still. We are working hard, especially as we are sailing at the top-end of the wind range.
“We knew we had to keep improving and we are happy with the changes We have made.”
“It is difficult to believe the boats are so close when they result from different design concepts. The boats have come together in performance in a wide variety of conditions. It is unbelievable.”
Tactician Ray Davies, asked abouthaving to call tactics at high speeds:
“It is a bit like chess on a rocket ship. I can move about a bit – take a look down to leeward. Judging closing angles accurately is not as hard as it looks on television. On the water it is much easier to judge.”
“We have a lot of respect for Oracle, they are not mugs.
Race 11 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/10.16 nautical miles
Elapsed time: ETNZ – 23:41, OTUSA – 23:56
Delta: ETNZ +:15
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.7 NM, OTUSA – 11.5 NM
Average speed: ETNZ – 29.88 knots (34 mph), OTUSA – 29.04 knots (33 mph)
Top speed: ETNZ – 44.57 knots (51 mph), OTUSA – 42.70 knots (49 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 15.4 knots, Peak – 18.0 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: ETNZ – 10/6, OTUSA – 10/8
