OTUSA continues to modify their boat, searching for speed. On Saturday 14 September they seem to have found a faster configuration. They removed the longer bowsprit since they do not use their big downwind sail, the gennaker, in the strong winds we have been seeing. During the press conference, skipper Jimmy Spithill said there were other changes we cannot see, and more changes yet to come.
Video: ACTV
A good view of the shorter bowsprit on OTUSA. They were faster upwind and more efficient when tacking in Race 8. Have they found the formula to grab the winning momentum away from ETNZ?
ETNZ had been consistently stronger on the upwind legs with more speed and better crew work in the tacks. In racing on Thursday 12 September, they gained over 50 seconds on the upwind leg in each of Race 6 and Race 7. (The America’s Cup race course has only one upwind leg.)
But OTUSA may now have shifted the momentum of the Match by winning Saturday’s Race 8. For the first time Oracle was faster than the Kiwis upwind, and their crew work looked much sharper. Will they be able to keep winning on Sunday 15 September?