Kiwis have 4 point lead in America’s Cup Match

 

Emirates Team New Zealand won the first three races of the 2013 America’s Cup Match. Oracle Team USA won the fourth, erasing one of their two penalty points, bringing the score to 3 to -1. The first to reach 9 points wins the America’s Cup.

The boats are about equal in speed, so racing has been surprisingly close, with lead changes in three out of the four races. OTUSA skipper Jimmy Spithill has been very aggressive, engaging ETNZ’s Dean Barker whenever the boats have been close. Spithill managed to give Barker a penalty at the first mark in Race 3. For the most part crew work, especially on the the upwind legs, has determined the outcome.

America’s Cup Race 3 Performance Data

Course: 5 Legs/9.94 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 25:00, OTUSA – 25:28
Delta: ETNZ +:28
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.8 NM, OTUSA – 12.1 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 28.57 knots (33 mph), OTUSA – 28.62 knots (33 mph)
Top Speed: ETNZ – 42.25 knots (49 mph), OTUSA – 41.37 knots (48 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16.8 knots, Peak – 19.3 knots

America’s Cup Race 4 Performance Data

Course: 5 Legs/9.94 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 22:42, ETNZ – 22:50
Delta: OTUSA +:08
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.7 NM, ETNZ – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 30.99 knots (36 mph), ETNZ – 30.92 knots (36 mph)
Top Speed: OTUSA – 45.97 knots (53 mph), ETNZ – 44.98 knots (52 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 19.5 knots, Peak – 23.3 knots

America’s Cup Racing Schedule

All times Pacific Time
Tuesday,  Sept. 10: Race 5   13:15, Race 6   14:15
Thursday, Sept. 12: Race 7   13:15, Race 8   14:15
Saturday, Sept. 14: Race 9    13:15, Race 10  14:15
Sunday,   Sept. 15: Race 11* 13:15, Race 12* 14:15

(*If necessary)