BMW ORACLE Racing placed sixth overall in the match racing portion of the ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami.
The crew, led by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts, lost a one race sail-off today for fifth and sixth place to Team Sea Dubai. The match was close, with the two yachts crossing the finish line overlapped, but BMW ORACLE Racing couldn’t overcome the start.
“We had a good race, our timing was just a bit off at the start so they had a bit of a jump on us,” said headsail trimmer Ross Halcrow. “We got right back with them when they got tangled in another match, but we didn’t have quite enough to stick with them. We got close on the last run to the finish, crossing just behind their transom, but there wasn’t enough racecourse to get back to them.”
RC 44 World Champion James Spithill guided the yacht 17 to seventh place after winning a sail-off against No Way Back of The Netherlands. The crew aboard 17 were behind on the first downwind leg, but gained a jump on their competition nearing the leeward mark and then controlled the match up the second beat and to the finish.
“It was a good race. There was a bit of action and in the end we got it right,” said bowman Piet van Nieuwenhuyzen. “The windstrength was up and down but a bit easier to read than the days before. We made the best of it.”
The ORACLE RC 44 Cup Miami continues tomorrow with the fleet racing portion of the regatta that runs through Sunday.
