It was back to earth with a bump today for Emirates Team New Zealand, as the Kiwis were handed a match-racing lesson from Oracle Team USA in an error-strewn end to the qualifying series.
After enjoying two almost flawless wins, the challengers got off to the worst possible start by copping a double penalty at the start.
Nearing the top of the starting line Jimmy Spithill, to leeward with rights, tried to squeeze Burling above the upper mark, but Burling held his course and thus failed to keep clear.
Oracle sped off to lead around Mark 1 by six seconds, and with a click more speed downwind the Americans stretched the margin to nine seconds by Mark 2.
Back came Emirates Team New Zealand, the Kiwi boat showing superior speed upwind, which, allied to canny course management, allowed Burling to close the gap and move in front.
Flying into the top mark on port at speed, Burling managed to cross the Americans who were on starboard and briefly took the lead. But after tacking in the face of Oracle the Kiwis were unable make to make it stick and the Americans simply drove through and sped off.
All the good work climbing back into Oracle on the beat was undone and the Kiwis were in catch-up mode again.
Compounding the error, Burling then drove Emirates Team New Zealand across the race course boundary and received a third penalty, followed by a fourth for failing to take the third in a timely manner.
Oracle sailed away for a 29 second win and now take a bonus point for winning the qualifying series into the America's Cup match.
'Obviously it's a little disappointing to lose that one point,” says Burling. 'But at the end of the day it's about carrying on improving and carrying on learning and making sure we get back facing them again.
'We made some little errors and then learned a lot and we stayed out for a while afterwards to practice a few things that went wrong during the race and we are really happy with the few improvements we made afterwards.”
As the top challenger Emirates Team New Zealand got to choose their opponent in the semi-finals and picked Britain's Ben Ainslie Racing for the first to five series.
6 comments
Is this really a yacht?
Posted on 04-06-2017 10:41 | By Papamoaner
I would prefer to see the old traditional romance returned to the America's Cup. Only boats with displacement hulls ought to be allowed. These pretentious contraptions are nothing more than a hydrofoil with Tupperware hulls attached. The skill of traditional seamanship has been shifted from humans to computers. Even the sextant, an important part of a real mariner's skill set, seems to have been replaced with GPS. The almighty dollar has killed off the last vestiges of the old romance of the race. Once a follower, I don't even bother to watch it any more. Am I alone in this view?
@papamoaner
Posted on 04-06-2017 13:43 | By morepork
No, you're not alone. There has always been a rivalry between mono and multihull supporters. As a sometime owner of a Southerly 115 (back in the 1980s) I am in the monohull camp but there is a beauty about multihulls and there is no disputing they are faster :-) You make a good point regarding the "takeover" of sailing (at least at the America's Cup level) by technology. I used a sextant but soon replaced it with a "SatNav" when they became available. There is a difference between "sailing" and "racing". (A bit like cars, really...) The money poured into racing eventually filters down to the average user, but the "romance" you speak of can be destroyed in the process. Whatever the technology, or the number of hulls, harnessing the forces of nature and skimming through the water on a broad reach will always be romantic.
@Morepork
Posted on 04-06-2017 16:19 | By Papamoaner
Good points. I'm sure the speed is related to length of waterline, so adding hulls increases it. In my first post, I would like to have said "a single displacement hull to qualify" but overlooked it. I have a prejudice against multi hulls anyway due to two stable states, being right way up, and inverted. I agree that whether it's mountaineering or sailing, we ought to embrace the latest technology (eg; GPS), but I would prefer to see competition kept traditional for old established races. If they want planing hull races, why not invent a new race for purpose, to preserve the romantic tradition of the old America's cup, especially considering how far back it goes?
Jmac
Posted on 04-06-2017 16:45 | By JohnMac
Very reluctantly would have to say a lesson in how to start and win a race have been given by the skipper we would love to see beaten. Hope the emirates crew have learnt and not just made excuses.
Get with the program
Posted on 04-06-2017 20:19 | By maildrop
any water based activity is as dull as ditchwater so give them credit for making the floaty things go quickly and look sleek. Might attract interest beyond some old farts.
Any head?
Posted on 06-06-2017 10:16 | By Papamoaner
Being of cruising favour, I know nothing about these modern racers. What do they do for a head? Or are the races so short they're deemed not necessary? They've certainly put secret keels to bed haven't they.
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