Orient Express comes in on port, USA on starboard. The breeze is soft and staying on the foils is everything. American Magic has seen the previous race and does what Ineos did. They are gassing Orient Express, but the French manage to stay in flight.
Oh this is weird. Both boats have misjudged their time on distance on final countdown and choose to stay on foils and sail past the pin instead of starting the race. They both make a slow turn and come back for a dip start. Advantage to American Magic.
Heading up the course, it’s going to be all about staying in flight.
Coming into gate one, American Magic is ahead and takes the left hand mark, shedding some gas on the way, the delta is 41 seconds.
This leg is all about vmg (velocity made good), so we may be seeing some funky angles.
Coming into gate 2, American Magic comfortably ahead but every gybe is a stress fest. Orient Express makes a big gain and eats seriously into the lead. I think Orient Express may replace Alinghi Red Bull Racing for my most improved award. I am so fickle.
The lead is dropping to 100m and Tom Slingsby, USA is worried. They need to cover and execute a tack or two when they may be equally keen to avoid low-speed manoeuvres.
The light conditions are suiting Orient Express’s boat which seems to be more forgiving in the tacks and gybes. It’s difficult for American Magic to defend.
Coming into gate 3, the delta is just 11 seconds.
On approach to gate 4, Orient Express have almost scrubbed the lead, but they will have to gybe in dirty air from American Magic. They survive the gybe but are still building speed to lay the mark as they hit dirty air from American Magic’s path into the mark and fall off the foils and into despair.
That’s the race over. American Magic goes on to win and Orient Express scores a DNF for failing to finish in time.
© Rebecca Hayter
Photo: American Magic, Ricardo Pinto, America's Cup
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