Posts made in September, 2013

We have a winner! After 19 races, 15 days of racing, Oracle Team USA successfully defended the America’s cup. A week ago, nobody excepted that. Jimmy Spithill was the only one giving Oracle much chances. I have personally been in multiples meetings planning for the ceremony where Team New Zealand was excepted to win that day. Today was a winner take-all race. Team New Zealand took a great start but we have learned yesterday that Oracle’s boat is now faster in the upwind leg. Oracle kept it close until Mark 2, and then made its move and passed Dean Barker’s boat. After that they sailed to victory. An interesting bit we learned during the press conference, Oracle broke an actuator on its wing right before the start and they glue it back right...

Another amazing day at the 34th America’s cup today! That was day 14, races number 17 and 18 if you were counting. The improbable comeback of Oracle Team USA from a 7 point deficit to tie Team New Zealand 8 all, happened today. The kiwis have been on match point since last Wednesday, Sept 18 but are now risking of losing the cup. Only twice before in the history of the cup that they had a winner take-all final. Race 17 was won by Jimmy Spithill at the start by getting under Team New Zealand boat and forcing a bear away. Dean Barker did not want to give in, so the two boats actually touched (and both need a new paint job). Team New Zealand got two penalties for that but also were left stopped in the water, while Team USA was flying to the first mark. The...

Still alive! The improbable comeback is strong and well here in San Francisco. Today Oracle won Race 16 by 33 seconds in very light wind condition. That’s the 5th straight win for Jimmy Spithill and his crew. Oracle’s boat is now faster in all wind conditions than the kiwis’ boat. The momentum has completely shifted away and Oracle can defend the cup. Further more if Oracle wins tomorrow (in stronger wind conditions), it will have won more races than the Kiwis and won nine races, opening the door for litigation about the 2 points penalty. It was interesting to note that Oracle gained time on all five legs of the racecourse. Tomorrow the wind will pick up in San Francisco, which should favor Oracle. The forecast is unclear if they could race...

The 34th America’s cup is now the longest America’s cup ever! And we may witnessing the biggest comeback in the sport of sailing. Day 12 was a big day for Oracle Team USA with two wins in the same day and now 4 wins in a row. The first race was held in light wind where team New Zealand’s boat excels .Jimmy Spithill and its crew did a great start and were able to contain the kiwis. The second race had more wind and another great start by team USA (almost pushing the other boat out-of-bounds). This race was easier for Oracle which had some point had a 700m lead. The kiwis were the fastest at the beginning of the competition but now the US team have improved and are the fastest. The score of 8 to 5 is still strongly in favor of the kiwi but jimmy...

Today every reporter and photographer I talked to, had the obituary of Team USA written and ready to be submitted by the end of Race 12. Guess what, Jimmy Spithill and its crew are not going to let the Kiwis get the cup so easily. In the 9th day of the America’s cup, they show great strength both at the start and on the racetrack by foiling upwind at 30-32 knots and posting an average speed for the race just under 30 knots. Race 13 were again postponed due to high winds. Oracle has offered to raise the high wind limit, but it’s all in their advantage, their boat is faster in higher wind. Team New Zealand had obviously refused. Tomorrow is day 10 but I can’t be there…