Emirates Team New Zealand: the tightest race yet

Monday was used as a single race, catch-up day by the Race Committee, completing race four of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Match. Conditions were relatively calm, while the tension in both Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia continues to increase with each day.

Grey skies, 7-10 knots of breeze, and flat water were the setting for an all-important race four.

The Kiwi crowds and support continued to grow, turning out in their droves to watch Taihoro being escorted out of the busy Port Vell behind Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s waka 'Te Kawau'.

Race 4 proved to be a real arm wrestle, the tightest race yet. Emirates Team New Zealand prevailed once again, with every metre of the lead hard-earned by the team, as the delta for the first two marks was within mere seconds. The race was never safe, but Emirates Team New Zealand managed to stay in control, despite constant pressure from INEOS Britannia, who were on the hunt throughout the race.

AMERICA’S CUP RACE REPORT

RACE 4:

Big race coming up and the breeze is in at 8-12 knots from the north-east and the course legs are set to 1.8 nautical miles. Emirates Team New Zealand enters on the port side bang on time to cross INEOS Britannia who also start fast and on time. INEOS Britannia gybes onto Emirates Team New Zealand line out to right side of pre-start box. Emirates Team New Zealand run down the right side and then gybe deep, INEOS Britannia tacks around to take the initial windward lane. Both boats with time to kill on the starboard tack lead back to the line with Emirates Team New Zealand aiming for the port end of the line and it’s an even start with IB starting 2 knots faster to windward.

Emirates Team New Zealand heading to the left boundary before tacking and finding INEOS Britannia right underneath them in a good leebow position. Emirates Team New Zealand forced to tack away back to the boundary on a slow tack and then tack back quickly to follow INEOS Britannia to the right. Big speed test now between the two boats on a long port tack. INEOS Britannia tack on the right boundary and with starboard tack advantage force Emirates Team New Zealand to duck who carry on to the right boundary before tacking.

INEOS Britannia out to the middle of the course and sailing towards the port tack layline but Emirates Team New Zealand pick up breeze to the right, gain, and then tack right underneath INEOS Britannia on the port layline to the starboard marker. Emirates Team New Zealand bears away at the starboard marker as INEOS Britannia tacks off to the port and it’s zero seconds splitting them at the first gate.

Split tactics down the run with Emirates Team New Zealand going left initially and INEOS Britannia right. At the first cross, Emirates Team New Zealand come across on starboard and cross the bow of INEOS Britannia to head to the right boundary. Emirates Team New Zealand gybe on the right boundary and come back together and just get across the INEOS Britannia bow as both boats again go boundary to boundary as the leeward gate approaches.

Emirates Team New Zealand come into the mark and gybe to take the port rounder 3 seconds ahead as INEOS Britannia goes to the starboard marker and starts the second beat going left. Emirates Team New Zealand tack on the right boundary and have eked a lead but slam a cover immediately on the INEOS Britannia bow as both boats head back to the right. INEOS Britannia first to tack away and Emirates Team New Zealand carry on to the right boundary before tacking back to cover.

Emirates Team New Zealand spotting breeze in the upper right quadrant and are happy with the right, INEOS Britannia going well out left. As they come back, Emirates Team New Zealand have made a gain and tack to cover INEOS Britannia on a port tack drag race. IB forced to tack back left and when they tack back, it’s the same again as Emirates Team New Zealand covers tenaciously. As the second windward gate approaches, Emirates Team New Zealand tack onto the port layline and bear away at the starboard marker with their lead out to 13 seconds. INEOS Britannia follow at the same marker.

Emirates Team New Zealand gybes well before the left boundary, followed by INEOS Britannia who gybe inside and it’s a long starboard gybe down the course to the right boundary. Emirates Team New Zealand first to gybe before the boundary and lead back across the course on starboard gybe. INEOS Britannia follow initially and then gybe back to the right boundary. Emirates Team New Zealand pick their moment and do the same, coming in on the port layline to take the starboard marker to round up on with a lead up to 15 seconds.

Emirates Team New Zealand go for a short distance on starboard tack and then tack back to the right to cover IB who rounded up at the port marker. As INEOS Britannia tacks, both boats meet mid-course and it’s tack for tack with Emirates Team New Zealand covering hard. Out at the right boundary, INEOS Britannia tacks but are covered immediately by Emirates Team New Zealand who are offering no leverage and as soon as INEOS Britannia try to tack back for the right boundary they are met by an immediate cover. INEOS Britannia forced to sail mid-course and try to find something to the middle-left.

Emirates Team New Zealand enjoying their biggest lead on this penultimate leg of the race and are well in control as the final gate approaches. Emirates Team New Zealand sail to the right of the course as the gate approaches and do a quick tack on the port layline to take the starboard marker for the run to the finish. Delta is up to 24 seconds.

Emirates Team New Zealand go left initially down the run, INEOS Britannia gamble and go right. Again Emirates Team New Zealand gybes well before the left boundary and gybe covers INEOS Britannia who gybe on the right boundary. At the cross, Emirates Team New Zealand are clear ahead by almost 400 metres. Emirates Team New Zealand gybe cover at the halfway mark to mirror INEOS Britannia on port but are clearly setting up for the port layline to the finishing line and one final gybe.

No mistakes, Emirates Team New Zealand nail a super-smooth gybe onto starboard and aim down for the line. It’s 4-0 in the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match to Emirates Team New Zealand with a winning delta of 23 seconds.

Emirates Team New Zealand beat INEOS Britannia (23 seconds)

Helmsman Nathan Outteridge was clearly very pleased to gain the hard earned victory in the tightest race yet.

“It was obviously a tight start and we had a bit of work to do to get off the boundary on the left side, but when we had the opportunity to crossover to the right side which we thought was pretty strong, we managed to get a little gain and get in at the top mark with the right turn there. So, that was pretty much where we got back into the race and I think we've made a step forward again with the performance of the boat and are attacking nicely so we are going really well upwind, obviously we are very happy with that but plenty more to come still.”