Twenty Knots

[NZGrant]

All credit to Oracle they are just the better team, boat and all. But I still hope we beat them tomorrow

[44'cruisingcat]

All credit to both teams. Best AC ever!

[Jimbo485]

No matter which boat wins, it is basically a win for kiwi sailors, kiwi nautical architects and kiwi boat builders.

[thomm225]

It's going to be hard for us to figure out Oracles true speed. They definitely look faster.

At times when you have a 350 meter lead, you can afford to point a little higher on the upwind leg and go a little slower which may be why we see ETNZ cut into their lead. Same on the downwind, go a little lower and slower but heading more toward the mark.

Even on the first part of that second race after the boats stop batting each other close up, Team Oracle had that 200 meter lead of ETNZ down to around 130 meters just on one tack (leg). They were in overdrive. Going WAY fast.

During an interview a few races back, Dean Barker said that Oracle had "found another gear" and he wasn't real happy about it.

It will take medium winds 16-18 knots and a good start by ETNZ to have a chance. Then they may have to stay right on top of Oracle which could be hard to do.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

No matter which boat wins, it is basically a win for kiwi sailors, kiwi nautical architects and kiwi boat builders.

You definitely have a point there. Plus Russell Coutts, who was the skipper on New Zealand's 1995 America's Cup winning boat Black Magic, is running the show for Team Oracle.

[thomm225]

I think Dean Barker has the best seat in the house to judge both boats.

See the article below and the video. He knows what he is up against. It quickly became evident after he won the start and still couldn't hold off Oracle:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/americas-cup/9207716/Team-Oracle-amazing-concedes-Dean-Barker

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Jimbo485

No matter which boat wins, it is basically a win for kiwi sailors, kiwi nautical architects and kiwi boat builders.

Umm, TNZ's naval architects are Morelli and Melvin - a US company.

Oracle's design team comprises French, Italian, Spanish and US nationalities. There is a NZ project manager and database programmer on that team.

Note that the NZ company (Core Builders Composites) that built Oracle's boat was started and owned by Ellison, and is actually a subsidiary of Oracle. It also builds private boats for him. It is, of course, staffed by Kiwi's.

Not meaning to take anything away from NZ - just getting the facts correct.

Mark

[JPA Cate]

Hi, everyone,

It's about 08:40 Local time near SF, and today's NOAA forecast makes it seem that we will actually have a race today.

I'm wondering whether the ETNZ can sharpen up their tactics and performance to pull this particular rabbit out of the hat......

Stay tuned, and all that.

A.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Hi, everyone,

It's about 08:40 Local time near SF, and today's NOAA forecast makes it seem that we will actually have a race today.

I'm wondering whether the ETNZ can sharpen up their tactics and performance to pull this particular rabbit out of the hat......

Stay tuned, and all that.

A.

Think ETNZ will play their card? Delay for lighter winds. I'd heard the winds were going to be on the high side the next couple days..............

[SVNeko]

Well, I still think raw boatspeed was the deciding factor.

[Lagoon4us]

Although now in the realm of billionaires only at least the race is fair and interesting, may the best team win if it's decided tomorrow or the day after as winds may be high.....

[deckofficer]

It is decided, USA keeps the Cup.

[colemj]

I wonder if SaltyMonkey will give us the score?

Mark

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by SVNeko

Well, I still think raw boatspeed was the deciding factor.

Yeah, but dont forget the effort that it took in the course of one week to make it so! If the Kiwi's failed anywhere (and they were amazing) it was in tweekng the boat. They had lots of races against others to do so before the cup. oracle had 1-2 weeks to make it happen.

[SVNeko]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yeah, but dont forget the effort that it took in the course of one week to make it so! If the Kiwi's failed anywhere (and they were amazing) it was in tweekng the boat. They had lots of races against others to do so before the cup. oracle had 1-2 weeks to make it happen.

Yes, no doubt about it.