A spectacular race 8 in the Americas Cup final today with Team NZ leading early, but after some boat modifications, Oracle Team USA found another gear to win just their second race of the final series, but only after a spectacular mishap for Team NZ.
Leading off the start line Team NZ established a comfortable lead, but then for the first time in the entire finals series Oracle Team USA began to claw their way back into the race upwind with the boats being neck and neck towards the end of the work. That was until Team NZ attempted to tack just ahead of Oracle, but while doing so they had problems tacking the large wing sail which appeared to become temporarily jammed, causing the boat into a spectacular near capsize with one hull rising high into the air before slamming back into the water. Fortunately Oracle was able to take quickly evasive action, but the incident caused Team NZ to incur a right of way penalty, and by the time they had regained control of their boat, Oracle had seized the lead and went on to win the race by a comfortable margin.
If you haven’t seen the footage of the incident yet, make a point of doing so online as it is spectacular. Also spare a thought for Adam Beashel from SLMASC, who was apparently on the hull of Team NZ that rose high into the air when the incident occurred. We hope the stains wash out Adam 😉 …. and that you and Team NZ can quickly put the incident behind you and continue on your winning ways.
The second race of the day was abandonded after the start due to strong winds (above the racing limit), however at the time of the abandonment Team NZ had again taken a lead into the windward leg showing that they had been able to quickly get things sorted.
With the apparent improved upwind performance if Oracle Team USA the racing over the coming days should be nothing short of spactacular, so make sure you tune in online or on Foxtel for all the action.
Best wishes to Adam Beashel and Team NZ who just need three more wins to lift the Americas Cup and sail straight into yachting history.
Smooth Sailing guys.
Team SLMASC
