Def contact out there. Surprised to see no penalty..

We will see what happens tomorrow. Going to be a long night tonight evaluating the numbers and watching the video... Gotta find a little speed. I thought they were really there race 1 but were a solid knot or 2 slow in race 2.

I agree w/ Matt. From the replay ( 1:17:07 is the closest they got) they did not touch, about a foot to spare.

The only umpire out there (wing or primary) was 70 feet from the contact, off the starboard transom of NZ. Impossible for the umpire in that boat to see contact. There was not another umpire boat anywhere in sight. Probably why they didn't rule was they couldn't see it, if it happened.

Here's how the umps saw it in the booth:
http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/R2-1-USA-grn.mp4

Very close, but no contact.

That's pretty slick.

OK, maybe tomorrow?????

Not if OR doesn't figure out how to stop ETNZ from their favorite play in the book, which has won them every race (starting at least as far back as the LV finals): start high and roll the competition all the way to a Mark 1 lead.

The only reason Race 1 was as close as it was, was the unforced error in rounding the first gate. For some odd reason, ETNZ was really pinching and gave up their entire lead. They then got lucky that OR did such a poor job of match racing them up the rest of the beat, giving back the lead.

In the Race 2 start, I didn't think there was contact, either, just from watching the video. And keep in mind, one of the first things you learn in judging is, photo and video evidence is hard to believe most times. Angles and depth of field can really cause things to look much different than they really are.

I really hope this goes longer than 9 races, if for no other reason than I don't want the next 7 to be anywhere near as boring as Race 2...

Mike

RACE 1 DATA
Course: 5 Legs/9.71 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 23:30, OTUSA – 24:06
Delta: ETNZ +:36
Total Distance Sailed: ETNZ – 11.7 NM, OTUSA – 11.4 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 30.07 knots (35 mph), OTUSA – 28.58 knots (33 mph)
Top Speed: ETNZ – 43.54 knots (50 mph), OTUSA – 42.51 knots (49 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16 knots, Peak – 21 knots

RACE 2 DATA
Course: 5 Legs/10.11 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: ETNZ – 22:46, OTUSA – 23:38
Delta: ETNZ +:52
Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 11.3 NM, OTUSA – 11.3 NM
Average Speed: ETNZ – 30.12 knots (35 mph), OTUSA – 28.92 knots (33 mph)
Top Speed: ETNZ – 46 knots (53 mph), OTUSA – 42.87 knots (49 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16.6 knots, Peak – 19.5 knots

I had to turn off the sound. How many time can they say "already 2 races down". Sounded like a skipping record. And the best part of the race(first part of the beat to weather)when all the passing takes place, THEY ARE ON COMMERCIAL!!!! UTube coverage was better.
And whats with everyone racing against NZL letting them have the windward side of the start line. EVERY time they start there they drive over the other boat. TAKE A HINT.

Amen. Wake up NBC. Take the commercials between races. YouTube saved it for me also, although at times it was lagged a little behind the NBC feed.

This has happened before, I want to say the last time it was on monos. They need to realize that these races are continuous. Commercials are necessary, but they should take NASCAR's lead and run the race on a partial screen during commercials.

Mike

What magic sprinkle dust did Oracle shore crew find last night...???

Uncle Larry can't be too happy.

The NBC Nit Wits went to commercial, and when they came back Oracle had passed! I was screaming at the TV! Finally saw it in the replay, but yeah, how about 30 minutes of "commercial free" you NBC Clowns!?

I think it was Ken Read who in the pre-race was chatting and said something like, "In a two boat race, the faster boat always wins."

As we saw, all ETNZ has to do is go straight, and let their boat speed carry them away. It's up to Oracle to get in front of them, and at least try to dump some bad wind on them, but in both starts, Jimmy tried to hook them and luff them into a foul. That might win the start, but won't work, long term.

I hate to agree with the naysayers, but now that we've had one reasonably close race, it's obvious that the course sucks for match racing. Only one upwind leg makes it way too easy to stay ahead once there.

Mike

I agree - It would be nice to have some 1hr races with a couple upwind legs but with some delta stipulations.

Race 3: Wow. Good start, great luff, Oracle in front by what, about 22 seconds?

Then they get passed going upwind...how do you let that happen?

Just wow.

They ignored the cone of Alcatraz, plain and simple. And JK is supposed to be the best SF Bay tactician who's ever lived? OK...

Mike

Oracle can't beat them upwind on boatspeed, all they can hope for is to sit on top of them and keep them on a very short leash.