START
A fast reaching start with NZL, JPN, and USA down low and slow as they try to pinch up – and ESP and AUS up high absolutely screaming…
It’s clear that NZL has muffed it as they near the line, but at a slow pace. ESP is cutting it really close but with the best speed…
But a bit too close – and too fast. Penalty to ESP. But man what beautiful photography…
As ESP fades to shake the P, AUS blasts ahead with GBR right on them…
But GBR has a better line and just gets inside of AUS at the mark screaming around it at over 51 knots…
LEG 2
NZL is still in it – making you wonder if the “America’s Cup Champions” can actually sail…
Aaannnnddd the answer is…nope. Not really. They start to suck yet again as GBR, AUS, JPN. and USA move ahead…with ESP already hot on their stern…
And as they come into the mark, GBR out in front throws a quick gybe – leaving everyone else heading the the lay line…nice move Ben…
Everyone else follows in behind, but they are just eating wake at this point…AUS is hot on GBR’s stern, followed by USA and JPN – with NZL doing a great job of just staying out of last place…
LEG 3
The rest of the fleet follows suit as GBR and AUS continue to fight into Leg 3…
FRA starts to close on the clueless NZL “champions”…
And AUS just inches into the lead as they head upwind…
AUS deftly pushes GBR to the edge opening up more of a lead…
And as the commentators and everyone else is watching this close battle, take a look at the umpire screen below…
They already see what’s coming between JPN and USA. You’d never know this unless you were using the app. Very, very cool. And then…
A usually rock-solid Nathan Outerridge makes a really bad call and takes both teams out…
And NZL breathes a huge sigh of relief as last place comes up a couple of places. When you’re being utterly humiliated after winning the “grand prize” – you’ll take anything you can get. Heh.
Miraculously, though, NZL is actually still holding FRA at bay as AUS continues to lead GBR coming toward the mark…
But Ben makes a bold tack and pushes for the mark – neck and neck now…
Very, very tight and exciting racing between the best sailors in the world – as GBR edges AUS for the lead. This is what it’s all about…
LEG 4
And now we move into the next to last leg as NZL and FRA battle for 3rd…
Meanwhile – crazy close crossing between GBR and AUS. It’s a knife fight…
But GBR is just faster and keeps pulling away…as ESP and FRA keep it super tight, stalking a slow NZL…
As you can see here, unlike the America’ Cup – one thing you don’t see is boats getting lapped because the AC75s could only sail fast in very limited ranges. Everyone here is staying pretty tightly grouped. It’s relatively close racing with last place only about 1 minute behind first…
But GBR continues to extend – now with a 20 second lead over AUS…and ESP is 10 seconds behind NZL…what should be an eternity…
Must be nice to turn the mark and see the entire fleet in front of you…
LEG 5
And one of the things Ben sees is USA lying on its wing after a slow-speed capsize. Mozzy Sails interviewed Paul Campbell-James as to why (VIDEO HERE)…
Meanwhile ESP is closing the distance on a still-struggling NZL turning that 10 second deficit into less than 2…
And as you’d expect, ESP overtakes NZL as the BirdBoyz struggle to sail…
GBR turns toward the finish with AUS over 30 seconds back, and NZL still struggle to hang onto 4th…
GBR takes the win…
With AUS coming in way behind…
And ESP putting a real spanking on NZL. In fact NZL is desperately trying to fight off FRA in the last sprint…
FINAL ASSESSMENT
So, overall assessment?
PRESENTATION: WAY better than Sydney. A much better combination of commentators who work well together. A bit of cheese here and there – but good. Also, I’ve seen lots of people whinging about the km/h readout on the speeds. They are wrong and this is the right approach. Remember this is intended to be televised to a broad audience – and needs to look and feel like F1 as much as possible. Mission accomplished with numbers that people understand – and are much higher-looking.
That said, still some bugs in the production – but hell, it’s a freakin’ pandemic! So I’ll go easy…
4 SMACKS
RACING: A fantastic race. Hard fought all the way with both GBR and AUS – and NZL, ESP, and FRA. But a serious bummer in losing both JPN and USA – both of them great competitors. At least it took NZL from 6th to “4th”. They seem to do really well when there’s no competition. Heh.
5 SMACKS
