Total confusion - America's Cup Race 5

Gary Jobson summed up Race 5 perfectly: “total confusion” on board Oracle Team USA’s AC72 catamaran. Let’s look at the race to see what happened to allow Emirates Team New Zealand to grab the lead and run away to win. There is a link to the race replay video in one of the photos below.

Images: ACTV

americas-cup-race-5-start — America’s Cup race 5: Oracle got a good start, to windward of Emirates Team New Zealand.

americas-cup-race-5-mark1 — America’s Cup Race 5: Oracle showed great speed to roll over ETNZ, preventing ETNZ from taking the inside lane at Mark 1,

americas-cup-race-5-leg2-lead — America’s Cup Race 5: Oracle stretched out their lead to almost 200 meters on the first downwind leg.

americas-cup-race-5-gate2-tack — America’s Cup Race 5: Oracle tries a “foiling tack” at the downwind gate, turning 180°, speed dropping to 7 knots and letting the Kiwis get some separation.

America’s Cup Race 5: ETNZ has made up most of the distance they were behind. Both boats sailing in the “cone” east of Alcatraz, out of the adverse flood tide.