Photo/Gilles Martin-Raget
They had the faster boat. The well-oiled machine of a team. Almost flawless maneuvers. And pedaled their way to victory.
Congrats Emirates Team New Zealand!
NZ – 7. USA – 1.
Photo/Ricardo Pinto
Photo/Ricardo Pinto
ACEA 2017
In Race 1, day two of the 35th America’s Cup match, both teams had a good start. It was looking hopeful for ORACLE until the gybe where they lost time and New Zealand foiled ahead. In Race 2 ORACLE could have been more aggressive at the start to gain the advantage. There was the opportunity, but they did not take it. So it was another race where we watched the Kiwis cross the finish line first. Throughout both of these races, New Zealand was just faster. Their team seemed to really work like a well-oiled machine.
Photo/Gilles Martin-Raget ACEA 2017
“They obviously have speed,” commented ORACLE TEAM USA helmsman Jimmy Spithill at a press conference this afternoon. “They have a very strong team. Having said that, we have a strong group as well.” He said they are going to look at everything over the next five days. “Nothing will escape our eyes.”
But the pedal grinders still may be the ticket. As well as the choice of boards. Once you choose your dagger board, betting on your meteorologist’s predictions, you are stuck. And the winds can shift.
ORACLE sailed very well in the windy San Francisco Bay. But, Bermuda’s light wind situation is a different game for them. They will be out on the water all week training for next weekend’s races, practicing their starts, tacks and gybes. We have seen them come back from behind in 2013 and hope to see it again on June 24. (NBC 10am)
“We have a lot of depth in our team,” continued Jimmy. “It isn’t our first time here! And we have to remember we won the America’s Cup Qualifiers. They’ve got speed…but this isn’t our first rodeo.” He said his whole team operates better under pressure. “When you push against one of the best teams in the world, it’s probably the best way to develop. I think these next five days will be the most important days of the campaign.”
Current score: New Zealand: 3 points and USA 0 points. First team to 7 points takes The Cup home.
Here are the results from Opening Day of the 35th America’s Cup, where the Kiwis took the lead.
Full coverage of 2016-17 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup races & schedules.
Photo/ Gilles Martin-Raget I ACEA 2017 /
What an Opening Day for New Zealand in the 35th America’s Cup presented by Louis Vuitton in Bermuda.
Though they look close, ORACLE is behind and in lighter winds Photo/Ricardo Pinto
ORACLE TEAM USA started out in Race 1 with a penalty and had to move two boat lengths behind Emirates Team New Zealand. What a way to start, Jimmy. He was over the start a fraction of a second too early. And never caught up. Kiwis take the first race.
In race 2 NZ was moving three times the wind speed and executing their maneuvers beautifully. “They really are sailing absolutely perfectly,” commented Nathan Outteridge, Artemis Racing’s helmsman, who joined the NBC sports commentators to provide insights into the races. Kiwis had a 400 m lead, which was taken away as USA got themselves back in the race and were only 30m behind. Then USA went into a gybe poorly, slowed way down and lost their game. NZ wins Race 2.
ORACLE back in the game, though short-lived Photo/Ricardo Pinto
A near perfect day for the Kiwis, which gives them a lot of confidence readying for Day 2 of the 35th America’s Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton. ORACLE has some work to do.
NZ had just completed racing during the Finals against Artemis a few days ago, while USA sat on the sidelines during the last few weeks. Perhaps that gave the Kiwis the advantage. Or maybe it’s the pedal grinding vs the traditional grinding. Some say it’s all about the hydraulics. Winds were very light today, starting out at 7 knots – only 1 knot above the minimum requirement, went up to near 9 knots and then back to 8.5 knots.
Point-wise, ORACLE entered the match with one point so before the races started, NZ had -1 points and USA 0. End of day – NZ had 1 point and ORACLE 0. Stay tuned. Tomorrow morning (Sun., 6/18) on NBC at 10am.
Beautiful Bermuda (I guess the world really is round) Photo Ricardo/Pinto
Is it a rematch of 2013 when the Kiwis were in the lead and ORACLE came from behind to win the 34th America’s Cup? Tomorrow, Sat., June 17, Emirates Team New Zealand and Defender ORACLE TEAM USA , hit the marine
New Zealand’s helmsman Peter Burling Photo/RIcardo Pinto
battlefield just as they did in 2013. But this time, New Zealand’s helmsman Peter Burling said in a press conference today, “We are a lot stronger team than in 2013. I’m sure it’s going to be one helluva battle out there on the water. That’s why we are here.”
During the Semi Finals and Finals the last few weeks, ORACLE has been sitting on the sideline. Are they now at a disadvantage since they weren’t racing? Jimmy Spithill, USA’s helmsman says not. “We’ve been watching and learning from these guys. There’s a reason these two teams are here. The teams are at a very high level.”
Peter wants to bring The Cup back home to New Zealand and says the fans are inspiring them to keep pushing forward. When asked what winning the America’s Cup meant to him, Jimmy said, “It’s a passion and somewhat of an obsession. It is something that is very very difficult to do, but really has one of those awards you cannot buy. There are no shortcuts.” ORACLE TEAM USA enter the Match with one point from their win of the America’s Cup Qualifiers.
Winds are predicted to be between 9 and 12 knots tomorrow. But all that can change. Both teams will meet with their Meteorologists and weather teams to decide which boards they will use. “We’re excited that there will be a breeze tomorrow,” comments Peter. Several days in the last few weeks the races were called off due to very little wind. “But,” continues Peter, “It’s all about who wins the last race, not the first one!”
Jimmy Spithill ORACLE TEAM USA helmsman Photo/RIcardo Pinto
Jimmy thanked the Bermudans for their hospitality since they arrived and all the USA fans. He felt they had an advantage because of all this support. “Lots of anticipation. Lots of excitement. We are ready!”
Here’s the schedule:
*if needed
Which team are you supporting?
Photo/Ricardo Pinto
Photo/Sam Greenfield ORACLE TEAM USA
The races are back in Portsmouth, UK, home of Ben Ainslie Racing (Land Rover BAR) after one year of globetrotting to Sweden, Bermuda, Oman and two stops in the U.S.A. Portsmouth is hosting the July 22-24 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series regatta. Check out the Events Guide and don’t miss the BMW Blokarts. Schedule:
Land Rover BAR – Photo/Ricardo Pinto – ACEA 2016
Skipper and team principal Ben Ainslie has his eye on winning the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series this weekend, not to mention bringing the trophy home for the first time in the America’s Cup 165 year history in 2017. However, both BAR and Emirates Team New Zealand (in first place overall) lost crew to the Olympics in Rio. Yet, it did not seem to make any difference today as BAR took first place by one minute in practice Race 1 , as seen in this brief video by Portsmouth Locals. They took a first in Race 2 and two thirds in practice Race 3 and 4. Conditions were tricky today with light winds and negligible opportunities for foiling most races.
Race 4 is the practice race that will be substituted should conditions prevent racing on Saturday. Race 4 results: Emirates Team New Zealand took first and SoftBank Team Japan beat out BAR for a second place.
Skipper Dean Barker, SoftBank Team Japan – Photo/Shawn Roster/Team Origin 2016
Prior to the weekend, skipper & CEO Dean Barker with Softbank Team Japan reflected on this past year and the progress made by his new team. “It’s been massive changes since we were here last year. The whole team is assembled, we’ve grown to have over 40 people in Bermuda, feels like we’ve been making some real progress in how we’re competing in the World Series (americascup.com).” In the Chicago World Series in June 2016,
Photo/Ricardo Pinto – ACEA 2016
Softbank took an exciting first place in Race 4 and came in 3rd overall, placing them at the podium for the first time.
Overall results after Chicago’s regatta for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series:
The races gear up tomorrow at 1:30pm.
Photo/Ricardo Pinto
