Photos, Videos, Results: America’s Cup Day 7

Perfect winds and blue skies were the backdrop to the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers today. In the first race of the day [Round Robin 2 race 8], Emirates Team New Zealand again showed their pedigree with a near perfect performance, easily overcoming SoftBank Team Japan.

The Kiwis, who came into the day sitting second in the standings, just a point behind Oracle Team USA, started the race in the best possible fashion, timing their pre-start perfectly to out-manoeuvre the Japanese team and race clear from their rivals off the start line.

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SoftBank Team Japan’s pursuit of the Kiwis was a dealt a blow on leg 3/7 as they suffered a big nosedive while attempting a tack,, allowing Emirates Team New Zealand to extend their lead to 23 seconds by the third gate.

It was a lead Peter Burling and his team would not relinquish, sailing magnificently and staying up on their foils for an incredible 99.6% of the whole race, finally easing over the finish line 51 seconds ahead of their Japanese rivals.

The Defenders of the ‘Auld Mug’, Oracle Team USA, took to the water in race 9, but it was their opponents Artemis Racing who claimed the spoils with a pivotal victory in the Swedish team’s aims of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs.

Heading into the encounter on just two points, the same amount as bottom-placed Groupama Team France, Artemis Racing knew victory in their two scheduled races today would guarantee their progress from the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers.

A perfect pre-start enhanced their chances of victory as they raced clear of Oracle Team USA heading towards the first mark.

One of Artemis Racing’s two victories in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers prior to the race had come against Oracle Team USA and building on their early lead from the start line, they ultimately repeated that feat, never giving up the lead as Oracle Team USA had no response in their pursuit.

Remaining calm, particularly following a slight nosedive on leg 5, Artemis Racing recovered quickly to cross the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Oracle Team USA, taking them on to three points in the standings.

That victory for Artemis Racing piled the pressure on Groupama Team France ahead of their battle against the high-flying Emirates Team New Zealand in the very next race [race 10]. Franck Cammas’ team knew they had to win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs alive.

However, it was a challenge Groupama Team France could not overcome as their 35th America’s Cup challenge ended following a disappointing defeat. Groupama Team France have one race left, against Artemis Racing in Round Robin 2, race 14, but the results today mean they cannot progress into the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs.

Ultimately, they failed to muster a strong challenge against the ever-impressive Emirates Team New Zealand, who led from start to finish in what proved a faultless display, finally crossing the line four minutes and six seconds ahead of the French team.

Not only did Emirates Team New Zealand manage to become the first team to complete an entire race on their foils, but in claiming a second victory of the day, they moved on to eight points in the standings which sees them move above Oracle Team USA at the top of the standings for the first time.

After enjoying a morale-boosting victory over Oracle TeamUSA in race 9 ,and having their progress into the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs confirmed, following Groupama Team France’s defeat to Emirates Team New Zealand, Artemis Racing claimed a second consecutive win of the day by overcoming SoftBank Team Japan in Friday’s final race [race 11].

From the outset, victory never seemed in doubt as the Swedish Team got off the start line ahead of SoftBank Team Japan and led from there on.

SoftBank Team Japan refused to give up the battle, remaining under 20 seconds behind Artemis Racing throughout the entirety of the race. However, there was to be no late drama as the Swedish team maintained their advantage to cross the line 18 seconds ahead of their opposition.

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