Racing Postponed for the Day with Kiwis on Match Point
September 17, 2013
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UPDATE: 1425 hours
Race 12 of the 34th America’s Cup has been postponed to 18 September because the wind was exceeding the 20-knot limit during the pre-start.
UPDATE: 1417 hours
A lively pre-start saw Emirates Team New Zealand looking for a windward start, but ORACLE TEAM USA had leeward position, looking to luff the Kiwis. Four seconds after the start the race was postponed because the wind exceeded the 20-knot limit. The race has been rescheduled to start at 1432.
UPDATE: 1350 hours
Race 12 of the 34th America’s Cup is scheduled to start at 1415. Emirates Team New Zealand needs one more victory to win the Cup for a third time (1995, 2000). The Kiwis have replaced Grant Dalton with Winston MacFarlane on Pedestal 3. The wind limit for this race is 20 knots, accounting for a 3-knot ebb tide, and the wind is presently down to 13 knots from 240-245 degrees.
Emirates Team New Zealand Crew List
Skipper/helmsman: Dean Barker (14), Tactician: Ray Davies (10), Wing Trimmer: Glenn Ashby (3), Trimmer: James Dagg (9), Bow: Adam Beashel (2), Pit: Jeremy Lomas (8), Pedestal 1: Chris Ward (7), Pedestal 2: Rob Waddell (11), Pedestal 3: Winston MacFarlane (4), Pedestal 4: Chris McAsey (5), Float/Grinder: Derek Saward (12)
ORACLE TEAM USA Crew List
Skipper: Jimmy Spithill (9), Tactician: Ben Ainslie (12), Strategist: Tom Slingsby (10), Wing trimmer: Kyle Langford (8), Jib trimmer: Joe Newton (5), Off-side trimmer: Rome Kirby (4), Grinders: Shannon Falcone (1), Joe Spooner (2), Jono MacBeth (3), Gillo Nobili (6), Simeon Tienpont (7)
UPDATE: 1346 hours
Emirates Team New Zealand has moved to match point in the 34th America’s Cup after a 15-second win in Race 11.
The Kiwis gained the lead off the start line and held it throughout the race, despite repeated attacks from ORACLE TEAM USA. The defender closed up to the challenger’s stern at the final turning mark, but the Kiwis were able to get around the mark on starboard jibe while ORACLE TEAM USA had to put in two maneuvers to round the mark.
Emirates Team New Zealand leads the series 8-1 and needs one more victory to win the America’s Cup, while ORACLE TEAM USA needs to win eight consecutive races to retain the Cup. Race 12 is scheduled to start at 2:15 pm PT.
34th America’s Cup Standings (first to 9 points wins)
- Emirates Team New Zealand – 8
- ORACLE TEAM USA – 1
Race 11 Performance Data
- Course: 5 Legs/10.16 nautical miles
- Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 23:41, OTUSA – 23:56
- Delta: ETNZ +:15
- Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.7 NM, OTUSA – 11.5 NM
- Average Speed: ETNZ – 29.88 knots (34 mph), OTUSA – 29.04 knots (33 mph)
- Top Speed: ETNZ – 44.57 knots (51 mph), OTUSA – 42.70 knots (49 mph)
- Windspeed: Average – 15.4 knots, Peak – 18.0 knots
- Number of Tacks/Jibes: ETNZ – 10/6, OTUSA – 10/8
UPDATE: 1332 hours
Emirates Team New Zealand leads by 17 seconds at the windward gate. The Kiwis kept their lead all the way up the beat, even though ORACLE TEAM USA closed up at one point to within 2 boat lengths.
UPDATE: 1321 hours
Emirates Team New Zealand maintained its advantage on the run and extended its lead to 6 seconds at the leeward gate. The Kiwis did three jibes on the run and ORACLE TEAM USA four, the last jibe to round the right-hand gate and gain a split beginning the upwind leg.
UPDATE: 1316 hours
Emirates Team New Zealand wins the start of Race 11, although both are late to line. The Kiwis had leeward position at the pin end with ORACLE TEAM USA on their windward quarter. The Kiwis eventually gained a position directly ahead of the defender and led at the first mark by 3 seconds.
UPDATE: 1310 hours
About 5 minutes from the start of Race 11, the wind has built slightly to 16-18 knots and the direction has backed to 235-240 degrees.
UPDATE: 1255 hours
With about 20 minutes to the start of Race 11, the wind is blowing 15 knots from 250-255 degrees. Emirates Team New Zealand will have port tack in the pre-start, and ORACLE TEAM USA will have it in Race 12.
UPDATE: 1200 hours
At noontime the wind on the racecourse was blowing 15 knots from 255 degrees.
UPDATE: 1100 hours
Regatta Director Iain Murray expressed confidence at his morning briefing that the conditions would be suitable for racing today, despite another day of strong ebb (outgoing) tide.
“Our intel tells us around 15 knots for first race and 16-17, maybe 18 for the second race,” said Murray. “Once again, a strong ebb tide today increasing as day goes on: -2 for the first race so a 21-knot limit, and -3 for the second race, so a 20-knot limit. Once again we have a convergence of wind and current, but the forecast looks ok and we feel confident.”
Today is an important day for both teams. ORACLE TEAM USA needs to win the two races to extend the series. Two wins by Emirates Team New Zealand and they win the America’s Cup. A split would extend the series, but serve Team New Zealand better.
“From an event point of view it would be great if the American team had a couple of wins,” said ACEA CEO Stephen Barclay. “Last week I called Thursday moving day and Team New Zealand did all the moving. I think today is D-day. If ORACLE TEAM USA doesn’t sweep the day, don’t get two wins, I think it will be extremely difficult for it to come back. New Zealand could wrap it up, Oracle could win a couple; it could be all on.”
Race 11 is scheduled to start at 1315 and Race 12 at 1415 PT. In the U.S., the America’s Cup Finals will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network. Replays will be available on the America’s Cup YouTube channel.