There are certainly no easy answers with this stuff. I believe that following the lead boat rarely works at this level, unless the lead boat really screws up. I believe that tacking for tight covering is risky. I also believe that not applying a loose cover is foolish. These are all things I've thought (and probably posted here) as races were unfolding.

I respect every person on these boats. They are far better sailors than I will likely ever have the opportunity to become. I really just can't stand the thought of watching another leebow attempt...

Mike

If the teams agree, there will be 3 races tomorrow. My guess is they will wait for today's results and Sunday and Monday weather forecast. 8 pm deadline tonight on the team agreements.

Wind forecast 8-11 knots and shifty.

Jimmy needs to win some starts (like, seven in a row...).

Never thought I'd be saying that after watching SWE own NZL in the challenger finals.

Mike

Paul Cayard doing live over at BT Sports. JS suffered a minor wrist injury. Great coverage at BT Sports. NBC . . . nothing.

Oracle hit 40 knts in prestart

...And Harris just called NZL "The Challenger of Record." Um, no....

...And we blow yet another start. Yikes.

Mike

we've got a race

No split, but USA tacked first after rounding. NZL higher out of their tack.

Coming to first cross USA in front, but will be on port for the next cross.

Much better race today!

Mike

Awful call

Cheap penalty against USA, they kept clear and had nowhere to go.

Mike

NZL extending, USA splits at the weather gate. Huge deficit here.

Mike

USA just stopped in the middle of a gybe. Apparently out of oil pressure.

Academic really, NZL had a much deeper angle on the run.

We need a postponement card, lol...

Mike

I'm not sure what oracle could have done to avoid that penalty with how they were up against the boundary.

NZL 4, USA 0...

Mike

They needed to plan ahead a bit more, they knew that cross was coming, probably needed to slow down and maybe tack sooner to have a better duck.

Mike

That's absurd.

What would you have done? There was no way they were going to cross ahead.

Mike

Oracle did it text book perfect. Tack earlier and you loose your boundary privileges. They re-acted to the dial down and stayed clear as good as they could coming off a boundary tack. It was just a bad call.

It has been very nice to have Chris and Nathan on commentary. Good call NBC.