SWE port entry, on time. NZL a few seconds late into the box. Lots of floating in the uneventful pre-start, SWE on foils first and won the start by a bunch!
Mike
SWE led to the first leeward gate, NZL doesn't split. They just tacked, but SWE didn't cover right away. Neither boat did a foiling tack.
Mike
SWE may have just royally screwed themselves. Leading across on port, they tacked to leebow instead of crossing and going for the next starboard advantage.
And now, as I'm typing that, they just sailed past the boundary. Yikes...
Mike
1-0 NZL
Race 2 start (NBC ran ads over the first half of the pre-start????!!!!)...
Very aggressive by both boats, NZL defended against a hook, came in too early, tacked away to gap off. SWE first to the line, NZL tried to roll, but SWE luffed them away, led all the way to the leeward gate.
Split at the bottom, SWE tacked to cover. This will be a critical leg.
Mike
Both boats tacked over to port, SWE in good controlling position at the moment.
NZL tacked to stbd early of the boundary, SWE went to the limit.
Mike
SWE holding a good lead, tacked on top of NZL coming into the top gate. Very well done.
Kenny said both boats changed some crew members between races. Looks like SWE may have changed tactics as well?
Mike
NZL didn't go for the split. Interesting...
SWE doing well, they just need to stay clean and fast. NZL may have gained on the run.
Last beat, NZL followed SWE to the right side of the leeward gate. Very odd.
Mike
Percy talking about hitting them hard on the next tack (close cover). Finally, the light bulb has come on...
Mike
Setting up for a split at the final windward gate, SWE should have one fewer tack to make.
Split at that gate. SWE setting themselves up for a port crossing further down the leg. Oh boy...
Mike
Whew! SWE managed to make the gate without a close cross or another gybe. We're tied 1-1!!!
Mike
Race 3 pre-start underway. Very aggressive early.
Early coming back, NZL to leeward, looking like a reversal of Race 2, but SWE with better speed than NZL, and roll over the top to lead into Mark 1!
Mike
SWE led to the leeward gate, NZL gybed away to go for a split. SWE didn't tack to cover.
Mike
Coming back together, SWE in the lead on STBD, but not by enough to tack and cover, so they're both heading for the boundaries. NZL will be on stbd for the next cross. Oh boy...
Mike
SWE crosses on port! SWE will now enjoy a slight righty going to the windward gate.
Mike
Wow, virtual tie at the weather gate. SWE crossed and went to the left mark, NZL split, and will have the stbd advantage on the next leeward cross, but SWE got into better pressure and extend.
Mike
SWE looking VERY sloppy coming into the leeward gate, NZL slowed a bit, virtually tied now. Split at the leeward gate, NZL going right and will have stbd advantage next. SWE looking OK (barely), and have cleanly crossed. Wow...
Mike
SWE on stbd for this cross, ahead enough to not bother hunting, NZL will be on stbd next. 700 meters to the weather gate, virtually tied again. I don't like this for SWE.
Mike
Both have tacked, SWE lost a crew member into the water!!!!!
NATHAN FELL OVERBOARD WHILE IN THE LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NZL will win this one.
Mike
2-1 NZL.
Nathan slid right past his cock-pit when he ran across during the tack. Unbelievable.
Mike
EDIT: Why is _ c o c k p i t _ an auto-edited word???
Burling thinks he would have won that race regardless, I'm not so sure. I think SWE had position to come into the weather gate on port, but inside like the other day against JPN. Sure would have been fun to watch.
Mike
today's presser
Just for fun, I went back and watched some of the 2000 America's Cup racing. Talk about watching paint dry. 🙂
Cockpit
EDIT: Why is _ c o c k p i t _ an auto-edited word???
Overzealous wildcard on censor, fixed it
Cockpit cockpit
Today foil selection could be critical. Light winds in the forecast.
Challenger Playoffs Final Races 4-6
14:12 Bermuda
Race 4: New Zealand vs Sweden
14:51 Bermuda
Race 5: Sweden vs New Zealand
15:30 Bermuda
Race 6: New Zealand vs Sweden
![[Linked Image]](https://cf.americascup.com/m4424_crop169014_1024x576_proportional_1497126193B7C2.jpg)
Got to say that the BT Sports coverage has been excellent. They have had a lot of coverage and interviews during non racing scheduled time, plus you get the pre-starts and no interruptions during the race.
Todd Harris- much better than 4 years ago. He's palpable.
not much room at the bottom of the course before they run out of water!
you can physically feel him? :-).. Pretty sure you mean palatable