Score now 8-6 in America’s Cup Match

Oracle Team USA has won five races in a row and seven of the last nine to trail Emirates Team New Zealand 8-6 on points, after deducting their 2 point penalty.

The faster boat almost always wins the America’s Cup

Oracle Team USA has made constant modifications to their boat throughout the America’s Cup Match. They have used a separate measurement certificate for every single race – 16 certificates so far. On days with two races they have changed the rake of their rudders between races. Each night they make bigger changes. They now clearly have the faster boat.

Winning the starts is key to winning the America’s Cup

OTUSA won the start again in Race 16. The only start ETNZ has won in the last five races was in Race 13, but they lost that race after OTUSA took the lead on the first downwind leg. ETNZ needs to win the start and build a lead in order counter OTUSA’s better boatspeed.

Race 12 was the turning point in this America’s Cup

OTUSA won the start with a late hook in Race 12, forcing ETNZ onto port tack before the start. For the first time, they showed better upwind speed, foiling upwind at over 30 knots. They have now won five in a row. ETNZ has been stuck at match point since winning Race 11 on Wednesday 18 September. The momentum is clearly with OTUSA.

OTUSA still needs to win three races, ETNZ only needs one

Any breakdown, mistake or just a little bad luck for OTUSA could hand a race and the America’s Cup to the Kiwis.  Let’s enjoy the rest of the racing.

Cartoon by Mark O’Brien – www.monstacartoons.com