Cup Experience

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The Perfect Start in America’s Cup Race 7

Gary Jobson’s America’s Cup Report

americas-cup-race7-perfect-start

Emirates Team New Zealand nailed the start in Race 7 of the America’s Cup Match.

Image: ACTV LiveLine

“For the first time in my sailing career I saw the perfect start.  I mean PERFECT. In Race 7 of the 34th America’s Cup defense New Zealand’s skipper Dean Barker approached the starting line to windward and ahead of Oracle Team USA’s Australian skipper, James Spithill. In seven previous races Barker has won two starts, and Spithill has taken the other five. The Kiwis have been dominant throughout the series, except for the starts.  After Race 6 I asked Barker what he was going to do to improve.  Through gritted teeth he simply said he needed to do better.  And boy did he deliver.

When the gun fired Emirates Team New Zealand was exactly on the line.  The screen grab showed they were just two inches behind the line. In contrast Spithill was late to accelerate and quickly fell behind.  OTUSA’s owner Larry Ellison was in a tender alongside the race committee boat where I call the action for the NBC Sports Network, along with Todd Harris and Kenny Read.  Ellison put his head down when he saw his team lose the start.  He must have realized at that moment that the America’s Cup was slipping from his grasp.“   

– Gary Jobson

Emirates Team New Zealand was right on the line going 38.7 knots as the gun went off. Oracle Team USA crossed the line 1.2 seconds later and 4.6 knots slower.

You can replay the race here, and see all the pre-start maneuvers in the video:

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Oracle Team USA penalized for cheating

Just days before the start of the America’s Cup Match, Oracle Team USA was penalized two points and one of their key sailors, wing trimmer Dirk de Ridder, was excluded from all activities in the 34th America’s Cup. The two point penalty means the first two races OTUSA wins in the America’s Cup Match will not count in the points. OTUSA will need to win 11 races to score the nine points needed to win the America’s Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand is unaffected – they still need to win nine races to score nine points.

The penalties were given because the team sailed with illegally modified AC45’s during the AC World Series. Read a more detailed explanation here.

Photos and more info here.

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Understanding the pre-start

Match race pre-starts often determine the winner. For the America’s Cup in AC72 catamarans, each boat enters the start box downwind, with the port tack boat allowed to enter 10 seconds ahead of the starboard tack boat. The start is a reach – across the wind – to the first turning mark.

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Oracle Team USA lost Race 5 after leading

America's Cup OTUSA made tactical errors that allowed the Kiwis to gain the lead

Tactical mistakes and poor tacking cost the race. After a strong start gave them the early lead, OTUSA made tactical errors that allowed the Kiwis to gain the lead and extend to win easily. A foiling tack at the downwind gate turned out to be a poor choice, as it gave New Zealand a chance to take the lead.

America's Cup OTUSA showed her speed to take a solid lead at Mark 1.
OTUSA showed her speed to take a solid lead at Mark 1.
America's Cup At the downwind gate OTUSA attempted a foiling tack, turning 180° and losing most of their speed
At the downwind gate OTUSA attempted a foiling tack, turning 180° and losing most of their speed. Later on the upwind leg they made tactical errors that caused commentator Gary Jobson to describe the boat as “total confusion.”

More photos and an analysis of the race here.

Video of Race 5 highlights.

https://youtu.be/lLZcceYGC88