Emirates Team New Zealand on Thursday won the sixth race of the America’s Cup, out maneuvering defending champion Oracle to edge closer to claiming yachting’s most prized trophy.
New Zealand crossed the finish line 47 seconds ahead of the Americans to claim its fifth victory in the Cup. The Kiwis need four more victories to seized the Cup from Oracle.
Oracle hit the start with precision, grabbing a lead that grew from the first to second marks. But the upwind third leg of the course proved, once again, to be the US team’s undoing.
The Kiwis sailed straight at Oracle in an on-water game of chicken that forced the US team to turn wide, slowing down. New Zealand then orchestrated an upwind tacking battle, which played to their strength and Oracle’s weakness.
New Zealand had about a 200 meter lead over Oracle at the third marker and darted to a dominant advantage.
The race had been delayed for two days by Oracle to allow the US team to re-jigger its personnel and strategy to find desperately needed momentum.
Oracle elected to use its one postponement card to delay Tuesday’s second scheduled race after the Americans were beaten convincingly by their Kiwi opponents in the fifth race of the series.
Oracle began the finals two points adrift after a pre-regatta penalty, and have won just one race, leaving them stuck on minus one and still needing 10 more wins to retain the Cup.
Kiwis win Race 6 of America's Cup
