Tuesday, June 13, 2017 (Image © Ricardo Pinto)
AC-50-Catamaran - Louis Vuitton Cup - Hamilton BER - Final results - Victory for Team New Zealand
Yesterday, 'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL won the 7th race and herewith the Challenger Playoff Final to sail the America's Cup Match against 'Oracle'. For the first time, the New Zealanders had the better start and after a perfect race, they distanced 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS with over a minute. On the coming Saturday, June 17, they will encounter the America's Cup Defender to avenge the last-minute defeat at the 34th AC Challenge in San Francisco. The match will without doubt be close.The news, the videos and the comments of Paul Cayard USA. .
Races 4, 5 and 6 of the Challenger Playoff Final were held yesterday in winds from 16 kn to 11 kn. The big factor for the day was that the teams both changed their daggerboards in opposite directions. The Swedes went for the small, high speed boards which are best suited to stronger winds while the Kiwis opted for the bigger low speed, light wind boards. Racing was very close. 'Artemis' (Nathan Outteridge AUS) had three times the better start and led at the first mark or more, but 'Team NZL' (Peter Burling) passed them in two of the three heats. However, the victory in the last match was by one second only, and this after a 16 sec lead at the penultimte mark. A major tactical error with a splash down at the mark before the final leg made them almost loose race 6.
Yesterday was the first day of the Challenger Playoff Final featuring 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS against 'Team NZL' with Peter Burling NZL sailed in moderate winds around 10 kn. 'Team NZL' won 2 races while 'Artemis' won 1. The Swedes won every start but once the Kiwis were ahead, they stretched gradually. 'Team New Zealand' leads 2-1 not least because the 'Artemis' helmsman fell overboard in a tack in the 3rd match. 
After New Zealand on Thursday, it was the Swedish 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS who qualified for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoff Final. In a fair wind (18-22 kn) yesterday, 'Artemis' passed 'Team Japan' with Dean Barker NZL on the second upwind leg and won the fifth race of the duel fixing the score at 5-3. Today already, the Challenger Final match against 'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL is on the program. 
After the day off due to the stormy wind, racing was resumed yesterday with three duels for each of the Semi-Finalist pairs. 
America’s Cup Race Management responsible for the rules and regulations of America’s Cup racing cancelled racing for the day yesterday. The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs Semi-Finals races scheduled for Wednesday 7th June were postponed until Thursday 8th June. The decision to postpone was taken due to the sea-state and wind speeds on Bermuda’s Great Sound racecourse exceeding the 24 knot speed limit agreed by all six America’s Cup teams, another 24h to repair the 'Team NZL' multicull damaged after the capsize in race 4. The 
After winning the first match sailed in an 18 kn breeze, an incident occurrred with 'Team New Zealand (Peter Burling NZL) in the second match of the day against 'BAR' with Ben Ainslie GBR. ETNZ was schooled by Ainslie and locked out at the windward end at the start. As Ainslie bore away to cross the line, at the last possible moment, Burling tried to follow. Unfortunately for Burling, he had trouble managing the maneuver and pitch-polled the Kiwi boat. Race over. Fortunately, no one was injured but the damage is significant, not only at the wing, but also in the fairings and electronics. It remains to be seen whether the repairs can be made in time for the next race. The 
The Challenger Playoff started yesterday on Bermuda Great Sound in 15 knots from the southeast. 'Team Japan' with Dean Barker NZL won the first match, but the favorites 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS came back in the second race finishing the day equalizing the score to 1-1. 'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL has a clear 2-0 lead, as 'BAR' with Ben Ainslie GBR abandoned the first match with a wing-camber damage and were not ready to start to the second race. 
The sun was out in full force for Sunday’s scheduled first set of races in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs, but unfortunately the required winds for racing were not. The four scheduled races planned for Sunday, June 4th, had to be postponed until Monday, June 5th as the winds were below the minimum six knot limit America’s Cup Class (ACC) boats compete in.
On the last day of the second Round Robin, 'Oracle' with Jimmy Spithill AUS defeated 'Team New Zealand' (Peter Burling NZL) for the second time winning the Round and herewith the extra point for the America's Cup final beginning on June 17, when the USA team will defend the Cup against the best of the remaining four challengers. 'Team NZL' has chosen to race against 'BAR' with Ben Ainslie GBR, while 'Team Japan' with Dean Barker NZL and 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS are the second pair in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs, that will be decided in a best-of-five race format, with the winners of each Semi-Final facing each other in the Finals best-of-five as well. For 'Team France' with Franck Cammas FRA, the America's Cup is over after one week. 
'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL had another convincing day yesterday winning both duels against 'Team Japan' (Dean Barker NZL) and 'Team France' (Franck Cammas FRA). A highlight was the 100% fly time on foils during the second match, as first and only team in this competition. 'Oracle' (Jimmy Spithill AUS), overall leader thank to a World Series bonus point, was defeated by 'Artemis' (Nathan Outteridge AUS), their second loss in Round Robin, and the Kiwis are now in the pole position. Today is the final day of the qualifiers with the crucial showdown between 'Team New Zealand' and 'Oracle'. 
The wind yesterday was slightly better as on Wednesday when racing was cancelled for the day and the postponed races could be held in a breeze just above the minimum (6 kn) required by the rules. 'Oracle' (Jimmy Spithill AUS) and 'Team New Zealand' (Peter Burling NZL) were the only ones to keep their multihulls foiling, while 'BAR' (Ben Ainslie GBR) and 'Groupama' (Franck Cammas FRA) were struggling the most. With a 6-1 score, the USA and NZL teams clearly remain on top and both want to win these Round Robins to earn the valuable bonus point on offer to take into the 35th America’s Cup Match. Together with 'Team NZL', 'BAR' (Ben Ainslie GBR) is already now qualified for the next Round, the Challenger Playoffs Semi-Final, thanks to the 2 bonus points from the World Series. The Brits and 'Team Japan' (Dean Barker NZL) booked one win each yesterday. 'Artemis' (Nathan Outteridge AUS) did not sail. 
After four fabulous days of perfect conditions, races had to be postponed yesterday until Thursday, June 1st, due to winds below the minimum six knot limit America’s Cup Class (ACC) boats can compete in. Four duels are on the program today. For 'Team France' with Franck Cammas FRA, this will be a crucial day with two races planned, and the opponents are direct rivals for the semi-final qualification, i.e. 'Team Japan' (Dean Barker NZL) and 'BAR' (Ben Ainslie GBR).
Yesterday, the first three duels of Round Robin 2 were on the program. 'Oracle' with Jimmy Spithill AUS won as expected against 'Team France' with Franck Cammas FRA. Loosers of the day were 'Artemis' of Nathan Outteridge AUS with two losses. 'Team New Zealand' with Peter Burling NZL defeated the Swedes with a clever attack in leg 5, ending with a right-of-way penalty that clearly distanced the Swedes till the finish line. In the last race, 'Artemis' was beaten by the 'BAR-Team' of Ben Aisnlie GBR as well. Overall, 'Oracle' and 'Team New Zealand' are now the clear leaders with 6-1 w/l. All other teams have 2 victories only. 
Surprises also on the third day of the Louis Vuitton Cups in the last duels of Round Robin 1. The leading 'Oracle' (Jimmy Spithill AUS) had a lay day as they had already sailed 5 races, winning 4. Yesterday, 'Team New Zealand' (Peter Burling NZL) won again 2 heats and with a 4-1 score, they match the Bermuda performance of the Americans. With only one win and a collision, Ben Ainslie GBR with his 'BAR' team is the negative surprise. Thanks of the 2 Bonuspoints from the World Series, they remain on the 3rd place. The other 3 teams have all 2 wins. Even 'Groupama' (Franck Cammas FRA) considered by many as the declared backmarker keeps the pace after defeating Ben Ainslie GBR. 
Moderate winds prevailed yesterday and six more duel were held at Round Robin 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the Challenger qualification event for the America's Cup. 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS, considered as a favorite after a flawless tune-up race period before the event, had a bizarre day. In the first race of the day, they lost against the French 'Groupama Team' with Franck Cammas FRA - with a mini-budget an absolute outsider. This was apparently a wake-up call, as they dominated afterwards the Cup holder 'Oracle' with Jimmy Spithill AUS who had to clearly accept the first defeat. 'Emirates Team New Zealand' was the only team with two wins yesterday.
The 35th America’s Cup finally started on Saturday (27th May) afternoon with the first six races of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, and the action on the water more than certainly lived up to expectations, as excitement and drama aplenty unfolded on Bermuda’s Great Sound, in what proved a particularly positive first day for the Cup Defender 'Oracle Team USA'. All teams completed two races and 'Oracle' with Jimmy Spithill AUS was the only one to win both heats, the second one against 'Emirates Team New Zealand' with an 8 sec advantage only. After a major split, Spithill AUS was able to reduce a 20 sec deficit, create an inside overlap on Gate 5 and after luffing Burling NZL to almost a halt, the Kiwis were on the losing edge. Surprisingly, 'Artemis' with Nathan Outteridge AUS impressive in the tune-up races was defeated by 'Team BAR' with Ben Ainslie GBR. In their second race of the day, the Brits collided with the Japanes team 'Softbank' with Dean Barker NZL, were penalised and had no chance to come back in the short race. Both shore teams had much work during the past night. 
