PRADA ACWS AUCKLAND RACE 10 SUMMARY
Emirates Team New Zealand win race 10 against New York Yacht Club American Magic
Race 10
Start: 1655
Port: Emirates Team New Zealand
Stbd: New York Yacht Club American Magic
Course: 6
Axis: 017
Length: 1.5nm
Wind 9-10 knots
Winner: Emirates Team New Zealand 1:19
As Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) and American Magic (USA) came into the start box neither seemed keen to engage in a pre-start duel. Indeed, as the clock counted down to the start itself, Emirates Team New Zealand were at the pin end of the line while American Magic were at the committee boat end. Both were at speed and on starboard.
When the pair came back together, after the Kiwis had tacked onto port, the Americans used the starboard tactical advantage that they had to tack in front of Emirates Team New Zealand. Advantage American Magic.
Eventually the Kiwis tacked away, unable and unwilling to live in the dirty air of the Americans, who were able to continue to work the right hand side of the course handing them a slight further advantage but the margin was still slim.
Meanwhile, Emirates Team New Zealand fluffed a tack momentarily and splashed down, slowing them in the process, all of which helped to hand American Magic few more metres.
By the top gate on the first lap, American Magic took the right hand mark to lead Emirates Team New Zealand by 12 seconds.
But by the bottom mark Emirates Team New Zealand had hauled American Magic in to trail by just 3 seconds as they went through the leeward gate. The big race changing moment was to come at the top of the second beat when the Americans fell off their foils through a tack and parked up just short of the windward gate. The mistake proved costly, handing the lead to the Kiwis who rounded the windward mark 54 seconds ahead. From there Emirates Team New Zealand cruised to victory sailing the final lap unchallenged to win by 1min 19 seconds.