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In Race 7 Dean Barker nailed the start, right on the line at full speed as the gun went off. Jimmy Spithill was a fraction late and almost five knots slower off the line. ETNZ led the entire race, winning by over a minute.Read Gary Jobson’s comments here and watch a short video clip, courtesy of ACTV:
Emirates Team New Zealand nearly capsized in Race 8 on Saturday 14 September. A tacking duel between ETNZ and Oracle Team USA produced the most dramatic moment of the America’s Cup. ETNZ, on port tack, tried to tack in front of OTUSA but did not have enough hydraulic pressure to change the camber in their wing from port to starboard. OTUSA, with right of way, needed to make a quick maneuver to avoid the Kiwi boat, resulting in a penalty on the Kiwis. OTUSA took over the lead and extended to take the win by 52 seconds – over 1,000 meters.
Video: ACTV
ETNZ skipper Dean Barker explains how they nearly capsized
Emirates Team New Zealand has won six races and scored six points. Oracle Team USA has won two races but that just erased their two penalty points, bringing them to zero.
Nine points are required to win the America’s Cup Match.
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.
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.
More photos and an analysis of the race here.
https://youtu.be/lLZcceYGC88