In another day of high tension in San Francisco, Oracle Team Not USA won the first race after causing Team NZ to incur a double penalty at the start, giving Oracle a massive jump which they didn’t surrender for the rest of the race. That result took the number of race wins to Oracle 9 and Team NZ 8, but the series score to Team NZ 8 Oracle 7 after deducting Oracles 2 race scoring penalty. Who would have thought a week ago when Team NZ’s lead was 8-1 that such a close finish was possible!

In Race 2 of the day, Team NZ had the favoured port entry at the start and did a great job to win the start and lead at the first 2 marks, but Oracle then fought back in a tactical battle, broke through and then took total control upwind and marched away for the most unlikely of wins when you recall where the series stood just a week ago.

So now after more than 2 weeks of head to racing, the official scoreboard stands at 8 points all, taking us to match point for both teams with the next race being the ultimate decider with the winner taking all in the 34th Americas Cup …. reminicent of that day 30 years ago (yesterday actually) when Australia II won in an ultimate decider to win the 1983 Americas’ Cup.

The two boats are evenly matched and while Oracle have all the momentum at the moment, Team NZ with Adam Beashel aboard have the speed to finish the job and they get another chance to make sailing history tomorrow. Send Adam and Team NZ your message of support by emailing Adam at  adam.beashel@slmasc.org .

Smooth Sailing Adam and Team NZ ….. bring it on home!

Team SLMASC

Race 16 of the Americas Cup final has just finished with Oracle ‘Team Not USA’ continuing to climb the mountain and claw their way back into the series with their 5th straight win (also 7 of the last 9 race wins). While the race wins now stands at an amazing 8 all, once Oracle’s 2 point penalty is deducted they now trail Team NZ in the first to 9 series by just 2 points and need 3 more wins compared to Team NZ’s 1 win to take the cup. The odds are still with TNZ but the momentum seems to be with Oracle, so it’s going to be a dream finish to the 34th Americas Cup.

Race 17 which was also scheduled for today has been postponed due to the daily time limit for racing after a delayed start to Race 16, and with stronger winds forecast for tomorrow (not too strong we hope), 2 more races are scheduled.

While we all want the show to go on (with an ultimate Team NZ/Adam Beashel victory of course), spare a thought for the tension and pressure on the crews as the series goes right down to the wire. The drama and suspense is incredible, with any small mistake or tactical advantage possibly being the difference in the series.

You can send SLMASC’s Adam Beashel and Team NZ your message of support and help bring them home to victory by emailing directly to adam.beashel@slmasc.org

Don’t miss any of the amazing action tomorrow morning from 6am live on Foxtel and You Tube. It’s definitely worth getting up early for each day.

Smooth Sailing Adam and TNZ ….. you can do it.

Team SLMASC

Two more races today in the Americas Cup final and two more wins to Oracle Team ‘Not-USA’ as they continue to claw their way back into the final. The race tally stands at TNZ 8 to Oracle 7 …. but after the 2 race penalty for Oracle they are on 5 points.

While Team NZ just need 1 more win to wrap up the cup, Oracle still need another 4 straight wins for an unlikely victory, but with the momentum currently with Oracle anything is possible.

The real winners as the battle continues are all us sailing fans around the workd as the greatest sailing show on earth goes on for yet another day …. it doesn’t get any better than this.

Tomorrow is another day however, and Adam Beashel and Team NZ are still in the box seat to make sailing history. You can send them your message of support by emailing Adam at  adam.beashel@slmasc.org

Smooth Sailing

Team SLMASC