35th America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton - Day 2
by 35th America's Cup 18 Jun 2017 22:13 BST
18 June 2017
Battle resumed on Father's Day in the America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, with Jimmy Spithill's ORACLE TEAM USA looking to seize back the advantage gained by Peter Burling's Emirates Team New Zealand on day one. However, it was day two to the Kiwis again, with Emirates Team New Zealand recording two more back-to-back victories over the Defenders of the America's Cup, putting themselves 3-0 up in the first-to-seven series that will determine the winner of the 35th America's Cup.
After racing had finished on day two, Jimmy Spithill looked ahead to the five day break before racing restarts on 24th June and what ORACLE TEAM USA can do to put themselves back in the fight.
"These are going to be the most important five days of this America's Cup campaign for us," said the two-time winner of the America's Cup.
"I thought we took a good step forward from yesterday, but it is clear we have to find some speed from somewhere, that is no secret.
"If we were forced to race day after day we'd be in some serious trouble at the moment. This break coming up is a massive opportunity for us as a team to go away and regroup.
"Everything will be put out on the table, nothing will be off limits, and over the next five days our incredible shore team will be looking at every aspect of our boat.
"Nothing will escape our eyes, I can guarantee that. Whether it's system related, appendage related, sailing technique or strategy, we are going to look at absolutely everything.
"The motivation is always there, the team is hungry and we're a very competitive group, but we are also a candid group and it is quite clear we need to make some changes.
"We feel that with the resources we have here we can make the changes to improve the boat and give us more speed. It looks like we have some good sailing days coming up over these next five days so we'll be into 24 hour shifts.
"We've been in a situation like this before and we've had less time. We've got five important days and we'll be using every single hour of them.
"We have to respond."
In reply, despite knowing that repeating the opening weekend's performance when racing resumes on 24th June would confirm Emirates Team New Zealand as the 35th America's Cup champions, Burling again warned his team against complacency.
"We are walking away with two victories again but, much the same as yesterday, we made too many mistakes," said the Kiwi helmsman.
"We now have five days to keep pushing on and progressing because everyone in this team is hungry to keep on improving and learning.
"We know full well if we stand still, Jimmy (Spithill) and ORACLE TEAM USA will catch us so we have plenty of work on in the next five days.
"We're happy to take those four wins because it is no secret that we are here to win the America's Cup. We knew to do that we had to win eight races and so we have to keep on battling to ensure that is what we do."
America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, Race Three
Race three saw Peter Burling and Emirates Team New Zealand pick up where they left off on day one, sealing a third consecutive victory over Jimmy Spithill's ORACLE TEAM USA to extend their advantage in the America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton to two points at the halfway stage of day two.
At the start of the race, both teams were extremely close as they crossed the startline, and ORACLE TEAM USA had a small advantage as they approached the first mark. However, in similar scenes to day one's two races, a small mistake was to prove pivotal as a poor jibe by ORACLE TEAM USA saw the American boat make a small splashdown into the water, resulting in a loss of momentum that they were then unable to claw back.
That mistake handed the initiative to Burling and he seized the opportunity, sailing clear of his rival to hold an 11 second lead at gate two.
Trailing the Kiwi boat, Spithill went for the split at the gate as he chased hard in pursuit of Burling, winner of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in 2013. However, Emirates Team New Zealand continued to showcase their impressive speed and steadily increased their advantage through the next two gates, holding a 49 second lead by leg 5/7.
Spithill's ORACLE TEAM USA continued their pursuit, in the hope of a mistake from their Kiwi rivals in the closing stages. However, it was not to materialise. Burling kept his composure, rounding the fifth gate with his 49 second advantage intact, and from that point there was no looking back Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the finish line nearly a minute ahead of the US team and Burling claimed his third victory on the trot in the America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton.
America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, Race Four
Race two started in almost identical fashion to the first race, with both teams racing extremely closely to one another as they crossed the start line, quickly accelerating to around 40 knots as they headed towards the first mark.
Both teams essentially had faultless races, but the superior boat speed of Emirates Team New Zealand proved the deciding factor, the Kiwis pulling away throughout the race to build a lead of 500 metres heading towards the fifth gate.
Emirates Team New Zealand rounded Gate 5 with their advantage standing at a minute, with Jimmy Spithill only able to watch on in the hope of a mistake from his rival Peter Burling, but it was not to be.
At the end of race four it was Emirates Team New Zealand who were celebrating again, finishing the day with two more points on the leaderboard and clear air between them and ORACLE TEAM USA.
America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, Race Results:
- Race Three: Emirates Team New Zealand beat ORACLE TEAM USA by 49 seconds
- Race Four: Emirates Team New Zealand beat ORACLE TEAM USA by 1 minute and 12 seconds
America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton, Scores: (18th June 2017)
- Emirates Team New Zealand: 3 points*
- ORACLE TEAM USA: 0 points
* Emirates Team New Zealand started the America's Cup Match, presented by Louis Vuitton -1 due to ORACLE TEAM USA's win in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers
www.americascup.com
Nic Douglass talks with Pete Burling as he takes 4 from 4 wins (from Nic Douglass, Adventures of a Sailor Girl)
I didn't get a chance to chat to James Spithill, he was rushed off to an ORACLE TEAM USA complete team meeting. I did get to talk to Pete, and we went over today's racing, what we can expect next weekend, and we also spoke about the now famous photobomb from yesterday as well! We have taken the liberty of updating the screenshot of Pete's photobomb to indicate the now four wins to ETNZ.
Enjoy, and remember you can listen live via radio stream wherever you are and catch up on all of our reviews including racing action at www.nicdouglass.org/ac35
For more adventures head to www.AdventuresofaSailorGirl.com, or subscribe to "Adventures Weekly", and for live action, be sure to tune in to our social medial channels; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sailorgirlHQ.
Two more wins for Emirates Team New Zealand (from Emirates Team New Zealand)
Steady as she goes for Emirates Team New Zealand with two more wins over Oracle Team USA putting them 3-0 up in the first to seven series.
Once again the Kiwi boat was faster right around the track and that speed allied to impeccable tactics and boat-handling proved irresistible.
And despite preparing their boat with different daggerboards today the Americans still had no answer.
But the post-race race words of Jimmy Spithill will sound a warning and serve as a reminder for Emirates Team New Zealand; "We have been here before," the American skipper said. "It's not over."
There's now a five day gap before racing resumes and Oracle plan to make the most of them.
"Five days, a very important five days," said Spithill. We must use the days wisely. We've got to get faster. That's pretty obvious."
Heading into the start of the first race Emirates Team New Zealand knew that Oracle had altered their boat to make it quicker.
But Emirates Team New Zealand was able to live with Oracle Team USA, and after both boats flew to mark 1 almost level the Kiwi yacht found a click more pace to take the lead.
Eleven seconds up by mark 2 the Kiwi boat continued to extend and with the breeze holding more steadily than on day one there was no comeback for the Americans who trailed over the finish line 49" in arrears.
At the start of race two Spithill might have sniffed an opportunity when a mistake on a gybe had the Kiwi boat floundering with the Americans poised to attack.
One again, cool heads prevailed and with the boat up and running properly Emirates Team New Zealand held off Spithill then floored it, forcing the Oracle skipper to acknowledge: "Their acceleration was pretty impressive off the line."
Showing the Americans a clean pair of hulls the Kiwis set off on what one commentator called "their most emphatic victory yet." The winning margin - 1'12."
Afterwards Spithill said the Oracle team would be working 24 hours shifts using all their resources in every department to find more speed.
Burling's response: "We've already got a massive list of things we want to work on. We sailed better today but we also made a lot of mistakes and we are a long way from where we want to be.
"And we know if we step back they will catch us."
Racing resumes on Saturday.
Spithill: "These are the most important five days of the campaign" (from ORACLE TEAM USA)
ORACLE TEAM USA skipper Jimmy Spithill sailed out to Bermuda's Great Sound race course with a different set of foils on Sunday, looking to change things up with a forecast for more wind.
With an easterly breeze of 10 to 12 knots, the American defender was on its high-speed daggerboards.
But the result was the same as on Saturday. The Kiwi boat was able to lead at mark one in both races and extend for two race wins.
"I think it's pretty obvious these guys are faster and we need to make some changes," Spithill said after racing concluded.
"I think these next five days are the most important five days of the campaign.
"We will look at every single thing we can. We have five days to respond and everything is on the table... Whether it's system related, appendages, sailing technique, strategy, we'll look at everything."
Spithill praised his team and expressed confidence they would be competitive when racing resumes.
"There's no other team I'd rather be in this situation with," he said. "We've been in tough before and we've come through it together, and I have no doubt we can do it again."
Racing for the 35th America's Cup resumes on June 24, with Emirates Team New Zealand leading ORACLE TEAM USA 3-0. The first team to collect 7 points wins the 35th America's Cup.
America's Cup Match – Race Three Report
On the smaller high speed boards, ORACLE TEAM USA was looking to be faster on the reach to mark one in this race. In the pre-start, skipper Jimmy was on the push, and then opted to take the high lane, to windward of the Kiwis on the sprint to the first mark.
Both boats crossed the line at speed as the starting gun fired and Team New Zealand was able to hold off Spithill from rolling over top, rounding mark one just 1-second ahead.
The first gybe was critical, with both boats neck and neck at the boundary. Just a momentary splashdown in the maneuver by ORACLE TEAM USA allowed the Kiwis to eke out in front and that was all it took for them to lead at the first bottom gate.
The Kiwis extended from there to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
"I think the boat's going a lot better than it was yesterday," said Spithill from on board following the race. "We just have to keep pushing."
Crew list for Race Three:
- Skipper / Helmsman -- Jimmy Spithill
- Wing Trimmer -- Kyle Langford
- Tactician / Grinder -- Tom Slingsby
- Grinder -- Louis Sinclair
- Grinder -- Sam Newton
- Grinder -- Ky Hurst
America's Cup Match – Race Four Report
It was another drag race off the starting line, with ORACLE TEAM USA set up on the low road to leeward, but once again, Team New Zealand was faster into mark 1, leading by 4-seconds.
"They had some pretty impressive acceleration off the starting line," Spithill acknowledged.
On the first run, the Kiwis were able to extend to a 100 meter margin, before Spithill and Slingsby elected to split at the bottom gate.
But on this first upwind leg, the Kiwis elected to cover loosely at the first cross, which limited the opportunities for ORACLE TEAM USA to make a gain.
As the race progressed, the New Zealanders made more gains to win and finish the opening weekend with a 3-0 lead in the America's Cup Match.
Crew list for Race Four:
- Skipper / Helmsman -- Jimmy Spithill
- Wing Trimmer -- Kyle Langford
- Tactician / Grinder -- Tom Slingsby
- Grinder -- Cooper Dressler
- Grinder -- Sam Newton
- Grinder -- Graeme Spence