Why is race 5 more important than race 4?
Simply because Spithill enters from the right and needs to exploit the situation. With rather stable winds and closely matched boats, the start takes on greater significance. Grael may have robbed match 4 by using an edge in boat speed and catching the first shift.
It isn't time to return the favour.
* * * Régate 5 * * *
Weather conditions don't indicate any favoured course. So Dickson tries a nice move, but Spithill foils him entirely, nails him into the corner where Oracle takes a penalty; the situation is so caught up that a second penalty, with a slight touch, requires Oracle to execute the second penalty immediately! Spithill will be made an honorary Italian citizen!
The left was initially favoured. But two-thirds the way down, not so sure: LR crosses going after the wind. Oracle manages to grind down 50 of the 100m delta it had.
25 seconds at the windward mark. 48 seconds at the leeward gate - but that delta is due to Dickson trying to mix it up while Spithill wasn't biting.
54 seconds at windward mark, but dying winds. Cover, yes, but this time Torben's skills in maintaining clear pressure is highly valuable.
Good work leeward. Relevant win.
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Oracle is in psychological dark hole: 5 losses in last 6 matches. LR, notwithstanding some defects, has confidence in their boat, has cemented their race tactics...
Italian media is going to be bubbly, forgetting that each race must be won individually. And anything can happen - Oracle is not a bottom feeder. And just think: had LR covered in the second race, they would already have advanced to the final.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Totale |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | - | - | - | 4 |
|---|
| Desafío Español | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | - | - | - | 1 |
|---|
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| Bmw Oracle | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | - | - | - | 1 |
|---|
| Luna Rossa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | - | - | - | 4 |
|---|
TNZ shows up slow at the start line, while Jablonski executes very well and storms off to the left, as LR did. But soome shifting to the right has allowed TNZ to power ahead by about 100m. Then more power & it turns into a no contest, although the winds are dying down.
* * * * * *
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