October 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. Oracle Defends Most Exciting America's Cup


increased over the limit. DAY 9


Race 13: An attempt was made to com- plete this race with ETNZ in the lead, but the time limit (40 minutes) expired and the race was called. This would have given the Cup to New Zealand. In the re-sail ETNZ won the start however they were in OTUSA’s disturbed air and on starboard tack. The Americans were forced to alter course and fi led a protest. The judges agreed and ETNZ was penalized, but the penalty went away because they were behind. To compound the problems on ETNZ they did two extra jibes so they could go through the left gate. OTUSA went on for the win. OTUSA 3; ETNZ 8 DAY 10


Race 14: It was all OTUSA. They won the start and lead at all the marks despite charges by ETNZ, which just could not get by the American boat. OTUSA 4; ETNZ 8 Race 15: Again OTUSA had an excel- lent start and did not look back. The mo- mentum was switching quickly from ETNZ to OTUSA as they closed the gap with two more wins. OTUSA was showing more and more speed and the ability to take advantage of conditions. One plus is the ability to foil and this is determined by the wind pressure. However you have to be careful because if you do not do it correctly you can lose as much as you could gain. OTUSA 5; ETNZ 8


DAY 11


Race 16: The wind was at 12 knots and at the start OTUSA got up on her foils, while ETNZ did not and the American boat took off in the lead. OTUSA gained on the downwind leg and at the leeward mark they split. However the American boat held its lead and went on for the win. OTUSA 6;


ETNZ 8 DAY 12


Race 17: The wind was blowing 14 to16 knots at the start of this race. OTUSA got a late hook on ETNZ and won the start and was in the lead by 17 seconds at the fi rst mark. At the leeward gate they stretched the lead to 29 seconds. ETNZ gained ten seconds on the windward leg but it was not enough as OTUSA won by 27 seconds. OTUSA 7; ETNZ 8


Race 18: The wind increased to 20 to 22 knots at the start of this race. It was an even start and a race to see who could gain an edge before the fi rst mark, which was ETNZ. They both headed downwind at 40 knots and at the leeward gate it was ETNZ by seven seconds. They split and OTUSA gained and took the lead and stretched the lead out to 57 seconds at the windward gate. They won the race by 54 seconds. OTUSA 8; ETNZ 8 DAY 13


Race 19: This could be the biggest come back in sports history, even bigger than when the Boston Red Sox made that amazing comeback against the New York Yankees, who had a 3-0 lead in a best out of seven game conference championship in 2004. Coming back from 8-1 with the opponent on match point would be simply unbelievable. The wind was blowing 19 to 22 knots and it was hoped it would not climb more and cancel racing for the day. Both boats crossed the starting line and it was a battle to the fi rst mark. OTUSA was on the out- side and when rounding the mark the hulls buried and her speed slowed drastically. The Americans gained, keeping it close and split at the leeward mark. On the fi rst cross it was still ETNZ, but when they came back together it was OTUSA. From that point on


it was the American boat all the way to the fi nish, winning by 44 seconds and retaining the America’s Cup.


This brought to a close the best Ameri-


ca’s Cup ever. I have been at several Amer- ica’s Cups and by far this one was the most riveting. That is because of the boats, the speeds they can reach and the excitement they give the spectators. However there are some issues. Gary Jobson and I have always agreed that it is nation against nation so crews should be from that nation. I also had a problem with the wing mast having been built in New Zealand when American


boatbuilders or the aeronautical industry could have built it just was well. There are a number of questions that remain unan- swered, mostly where the next race will be held and in what type of boats. For me and many others, do not change a thing. Howev- er, one must fi gure a way to keep the costs down so that more countries can participate. Maybe make parts of the boats the same for everyone and only allow certain aspects of the boat to be altered. One can only hope that Larry Ellison realizes what he has done for the sport and the defender does not change too much.


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