Issue date
Emirates Team New Zealand bounced back in race 10 of the America’s Cup match at San Francisco today to go 7-1 up on Oracle.
Today’s pictures are here; today’s video is here
Earlier, the team had lost the ninth race. Oracle won the start, sailed well throughout and led to the finish. The delta was 47s.
But in the second race today, Barker took the lead at the first mark – from there it was a close race in which the lead changed several times.
It was a classic match race.... tack for tack, gybe for gybe with neither side having a clear advantage. The lead changed four times: Oracle with 3m advantage, ETNZ with four... it was nerve-wracking stuff.
NZL5 finally won control two-thirds of the way up the fourth leg, held on and finshed 17s ahead.
Veteran America’s Cup watchers said today’s second race was the most exciting they had seen for many, many years. In fact, they agreed, probably the most exciting in living memory – two big, fast boats revelling in the fresh conditions engaging in close-quarter racing and neither team showing any inclination to back off.
Skipper Dean Barker clearly enjoyed the day. He told a press conference at the end of the day: “If you didn't enjoy today's racing you should watch another sport.
“It was very important to bounce back after race 9. “Oracle stepped up today As we expected they would. In the race 9 they made a good gain at the bottom gate and found another gear in the upwind conditions.
“The problem with this ebb tide is that when you’re behind you’re locked out.
“We keep a watchful eye on Oracle and we are impressed by the way they are sailing. We know we have to keep on improving.”
Standings (first to 9 points wins)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 7
ORACLE TEAM USA – 1
Race 9 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/10.02 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 21:53, ETNZ – 22:40
Delta: OTUSA +:47
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.3 NM, ETNZ – 11.5 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 31.63 knots (36 mph), ETNZ – 31.32 knots (36 mph)
Top Speed: OTUSA – 42.52 knots (49 mph), ETNZ – 42.54 knots (49 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 17.6 knots, Peak – 20.8 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: OTUSA – 8/6, ETNZ – 8/8
Race 10 Performance Data
Course: 5 Legs/10.02 nautical miles
Elapsed time: ETNZ – 22:00, OTUSA – 22:16
Delta: ETNZ +:16
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.8 NM, OTUSA – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 32.25 knots (37 mph), OTUSA – 31.76 knots (36 mph)
Top speed: ETNZ – 43.01 knots (49 mph), OTUSA – 44.98 knots (52 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 18.3 knots, Peak – 22.3 knots
Number of tacks/gybes: ETNZ – 7/7, OTUSA – 7/7
