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Ellison and Team Oracle are finally making a contest of it against the Kiwis...although it could be all over today...
The boats themselves are quite incredible vehicles. They are 72 hydrofoiling catamarans, capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots on a reach and are capable of sailing almost head to wind on a beat.
A win and a gift keep Oracle alive in America's Cup
SAN FRANCISCO | Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:26pm EDT
(Reuters) - Oracle Team USA again staved off elimination in the America's Cup on Friday, catching a huge break when the day's first race was abandoned for exceeding the time limit with Emirates Team New Zealand far ahead, and then coming back to win a second race in stronger breezes.
Friday's competition featured drastically different conditions than previous matches, with very light winds and fog wafting in through the Golden Gate.
In the first race, Oracle won the start as the two boats appeared to drift to the first mark, but New Zealand made a better maneuver to capture what little wind there was and quickly opened up a huge lead. But it was all for naught as the time limit wound down, and the race was called with New Zealand just a few hundred yards from the finish line.
New Zealand had the jump in the second race, winning a thrilling start that saw the two boats maneuver within feet of one another.
Oracle overtook them on the downwind leg, taking better advantage of the erratic wind conditions. New Zealand was penalized for forcing Oracle to alter its course as the two boats converged at high speed and the U.S. team then capitalized on a Kiwi tactical error as the boats turned upwind.
"It was a frustrating day. It was a really solid first race," said New Zealand skipper Dean Barker. "It's disappointing to be that close but so far away."
New Zealand now leads the best-of-17 series 8-3, with two more races scheduled for Saturday.
Until Friday the regatta had been dogged by winds that often exceeded the limits set by the organizers, which were lowered for safety reasons after a fatal training accident in May. The wind limit rule had led to five race cancellations since the America's Cup finals began two weeks ago, and the two teams bickered about raising the limit after Thursday's postponement...
The boats themselves are quite incredible vehicles. They are 72 hydrofoiling catamarans, capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots on a reach and are capable of sailing almost head to wind on a beat.
A win and a gift keep Oracle alive in America's Cup
SAN FRANCISCO | Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:26pm EDT
(Reuters) - Oracle Team USA again staved off elimination in the America's Cup on Friday, catching a huge break when the day's first race was abandoned for exceeding the time limit with Emirates Team New Zealand far ahead, and then coming back to win a second race in stronger breezes.
Friday's competition featured drastically different conditions than previous matches, with very light winds and fog wafting in through the Golden Gate.
In the first race, Oracle won the start as the two boats appeared to drift to the first mark, but New Zealand made a better maneuver to capture what little wind there was and quickly opened up a huge lead. But it was all for naught as the time limit wound down, and the race was called with New Zealand just a few hundred yards from the finish line.
New Zealand had the jump in the second race, winning a thrilling start that saw the two boats maneuver within feet of one another.
Oracle overtook them on the downwind leg, taking better advantage of the erratic wind conditions. New Zealand was penalized for forcing Oracle to alter its course as the two boats converged at high speed and the U.S. team then capitalized on a Kiwi tactical error as the boats turned upwind.
"It was a frustrating day. It was a really solid first race," said New Zealand skipper Dean Barker. "It's disappointing to be that close but so far away."
New Zealand now leads the best-of-17 series 8-3, with two more races scheduled for Saturday.
Until Friday the regatta had been dogged by winds that often exceeded the limits set by the organizers, which were lowered for safety reasons after a fatal training accident in May. The wind limit rule had led to five race cancellations since the America's Cup finals began two weeks ago, and the two teams bickered about raising the limit after Thursday's postponement...
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