New Zealand leave USA in their wake

Oracle Team USA will need to produce a miraculous comeback similar to San Francisco four years ago if they are to defend their America’s Cup crown out in Bermuda.

Emirates Team New Zealand won both yesterday’s races to cruise into a 6-1 lead in the first-toseven series and claim match point.

Although the USA came back in 2013, winning eight straight races from 8-1 down to triumph 9-8, the circumstances were different. Skipper Jimmy Spithill was able to call on Sir Ben Ainslie as tactician midway through the series, and the sailors were still learning how to fully exploit the foiling technology. The USA managed to get their boat foiling upwind and suddenly had a decisive advantage.

This time, not only do the Kiwis still appear to have better boat speed, but Spithill is proving sloppy. The Australian lost both starts again yesterday, the first by 12 seconds. He then shot himself in both feet in the second when he veered outside the race boundary to pick up a two boat-length penalty and then produced a terrible tack, allowing New Zealand to cruise to a 30-second win.