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Emirates Team New Zealand sets the standard in the AC72. Watch them complete a gybe while staying up on the foils.
Video: ACTV
Here is an amateur video of Oracle Team USA foiling through a gybe while training.
Video: John Navas
In the same video you can see footage of Artemis training yesterday, Tuesday 30 July 2013.
America’s Cup 34 got off to a rocky start in the July round robin phase:
But there is good news, too!
Racing next week: Artemis vs Luna Rossa in semi-final
Louis Vuitton Cup Final
America’s Cup Match
Luna Rossa lost all four races against Emirates Team New Zealand, by margins of up to 7 minutes. Their best performance was to lose by 2 minutes 19 seconds in a race where ETNZ had an equipment failure. But with far more time on the water than Artemis, Luna Rossa should be the clear favorite to beat Artemis in the semi-final.
Artemis Racing has had only three days in their new AC72 and is the clear underdog. They have the talent and the will to be strong competitors against Luna Rossa in the semi-final, but do they have the time to master the new boat before it’s time to race?
As winner of the round robin phase, Emirates Team New Zealand has chosen to go straight to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final.
Luna Rossa will race Artemis in the semi-final, a best of seven series, with one race per day beginning August 6. The winner sails against Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
The Louis Vuitton Cup Final is best of 13 (first to win seven races), with two races each race day, beginning August 17.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will face Oracle Team USA in the America’s Cup Match., which begins on September 7 and has two races per day. The first team to win nine races wins the America’s Cup.
See the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup race calendar here.
Sunday 28 July 2013 – Emirates Team New Zealand once again dominated Luna Rossa, this time winning by 3 minutes 20 seconds. ETNZ has won all four of their round robin races against Luna Rossa and has won the round robin phase of the Louis Vuitton Cup.
Today’s performance data
Notice that ETNZ sailed almost a mile and a half less distance at an average speed almost three fourths of a knot faster.
Emirates Team New Zealand clinched the round robin series Tuesday 23 July, with a race to spare. They will announce their choice for the semi-final on Sunday 28 July, after their last round robin race with Luna Rossa.
ETNZ has three choices:
They are almost certain to advance to the America’s Cup Match against Oracle Team USA in September. They will choose whatever will give them the best chance for success in the America’s Cup Match. If they want to make modifications to their boat and test them, they might choose option 1. That would give them until August 17 – the first race of the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
If they want more race practice and more exposure for their sponsors, ETNZ will sail in the semi-final, against… who?
That depends on how strong they think Artemis is. On paper, Artemis should have no chance against ETNZ. Artemis had their first day on a foiling AC72 on Wednesday, July 24. ETNZ has been perfecting foiling for almost a year. But… what if the Artemis boat is fast? What if Artemis races Luna Rossa in the semi-final and wins? That would give Artemis confidence and valuable race experience. It could make them a tougher competitor.
So it might make sense for ETNZ to sail the semi-final against Artemis. They have dominated Luna Rossa, so why not eliminate Artemis before Artemis can get strong, and then finish off Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup final?
Let’s see what ETNZ announces on Sunday! What do you think they should do? Why?