Race 8: Almost Over And Out For ETNZ

[Photoboy]

Been very close all race...on leg 3 ENTZ nearly capsizes...OR in lead!

















Oracle wins... now only needs 9 more wins...

[Photoboy]

ORACLE TEAM USA won its second race of the 34th America’s Cup, Race 8 of the series, when Emirates Team New Zealand nearly capsized on the upwind leg. The two crews had met four times on the upwind leg with the Kiwis holding the advantage. At the fifth meeting Emirates Team New Zealand went to tack to starboard but the wing didn’t pop through and the 72-foot long catamaran was on the edge of capsizing. ORACLE TEAM USA grabbed the lead and extended to win by 52 seconds.

“We’re all good; disappointed to let the lead go,” said Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker. “They got nicely out of phase and chipped away. We didn't get the hydraulics and if the wing doesn't tack when the boat does, you're in trouble... Fortunately the boat came up and no collision with the other guys.”

Emirates Team New Zealand still leads on the scoreboard 6-0, and in wins 6-2. The winner of the 34th America’s Cup will be the first team to win 9 points. For the Kiwis that means three additional race wins and for ORACLE TEAM USA it means nine, due to a penalty imposed by the International Jury.

34th America’s Cup Standings (first to 9 points wins)

Emirates Team New Zealand – 6
ORACLE TEAM USA – 0

Race 8 Performance Data

Course: 5 Legs/10.16 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 23:09, ETNZ – 24:01
Delta: OTUSA +:52
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.4 NM, ETNZ – 11.7 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 29.90 knots (34 mph), ETNZ – 29.32 knots (34 mph)
Top Speed: OTUSA – 44.58 knots (51 mph), ETNZ – 47.02 knots (54 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 16.6 knots, Peak – 19.6 knots
Number of Tacks/Jibes: OTUSA – 8/8, ETNZ – 9/7

[Photoboy]

WHOA!!!

[Photoboy]

"NEVER in the history of "small gear" has the entire population of a country needed a change at the same moment....."

~Dick Enersen~

[El Capitan]

I STILL can believe they kept that from going over!

[Dirty Sanchez]

Full pucker!!!

[cartman]

"NEVER in the history of "small gear" has the entire population of a country needed a change at the same moment....."

~Dick Enersen~

That would have effectively taken NZ out of the Cup

[Rainier]

Wow. NZ is lucky to still be racing.

OR looked damn good upwind. They figured something out. Could get interesting.

[El Capitan]

I STILL can't believe they kept that from going over!

I meant can't.

DOH!

[billy backstay]

That would have effectively taken NZ out of the Cup

Only way we're gonna win it, mate. I hope it goes to the Kiwis, so they get a more cost effective boat next time and have more than a few challengers. If OTUSA prevails, then so does Larrys giant circle jerk.

[Rainier]

Only way we're gonna win it, mate. I hope it goes to the Kiwis, so they get a more cost effective boat next time and have more than a few challengers. If OTUSA prevails, then so does Larrys giant circle jerk.

Disagree. They went from total zero to 2 pretty equal boats and some amazing racing in the first go. OR and NZ have done the expensive grunt work to figure these boats out.

Keep the rules similar; smaller rigs, bigger rudders, higher wind range and keep charging. Next round there will be 10 teams. Way better than 15 slugs...

[IOR Geezer]

Heart in throat moment there. ENTZ has a back up wing, but if they go over for 1st time, it might shatter their nerves!

[Bitchin Bow Dude]

2 more wins and the Cup flys 1st class to Auckland

[Buzz Light Beer]

Nervous Nellies over at OR about right now.

Who will get thrown under the bus next?

[fototaker]