America’s Cup Race 10, won by Emirates Team New Zealand

In Race 10, OTUSA made two tactical decisions that both turned out badly, and ETNZ went on for the win. Let’s look at these two situations. 

After swapping the lead twice on the upwind leg, ETNZ sailed high and slow, to be able to duck OTUSA and still lay the right hand mark at Gate 3. With starboard advantage, OTUSA might have slowed down to prevent ETNZ from laying the mark. Or they might have tacked in front of ETNZ and rounded the right hand mark – Rule 18 gave them rights to mark room. Instead, they maintained speed, crossed in front and rounded the left hand mark, giving ETNZ the right side and starboard advantage on the downwind leg.