Rarely have you heard the otherwise rather controlled New Zealanders laughing, cheering and shouting as loudly after a victory in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series as they did after the decisive third and final race. As a spectator, you couldn't help but laugh, because the course of the race (and the finished regatta) that had just ended was hard to believe: In winds that changed from two to 25 knots and back again within seconds, plus strong currents in which the racing catamarans were sometimes helplessly driven over the forbidden course limits and had to take corresponding penalties, the Kiwis had initially been in midfield for a long time after a botched start to the final race, while Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR fought an exciting top duel for overall victory off New York.
In the meantime, SoftBank Team Japan had surprisingly pulled ahead of the defending champions and the British challengers in the electricity poker. But Dean Barker's lead was not to last long either. While the majority of the fleet got stuck in wind holes on the way to the last gate and penalties were again handed out for exceeding the course limit, Emirates Team New Zealand suddenly sped past the entire fleet at breakneck speed across the centre of the course - as if guided by magic - towards Gate 4 and the finish line just behind. The incredible scene ended with the triumph of the New Zealanders, who seemed to have been beaten two minutes earlier, but crossed the finish line 19 seconds ahead of Oracle Team USA. They were followed by SoftBank Team Japan, the French, Sir Ben Ainslie's Team Land Rover BAR and Artemis Racing from Sweden.
In the overall standings, Jimmy Spithill's home-hungry men had to be satisfied with second place behind the New Zealanders skippered by Peter Burling and ahead of Franck Cammas' Groupama Team France, but they were not. Sir Ben Ainslie's Team Land Rover BAR finished the two-day series even more disappointed, the opening day of which had been paralysed by a persistent lull. After three breathless races, the British team only finished fifth behind SoftBank Team Japan and ahead of the Swedish team Artemis Racing, although overall victory was still within their grasp until just a few minutes before the final chequered flag. However, two penalties for exceeding the course limits meant that even Ainslie's men were unable to make up the difference.
The ten to 20-minute races on the capricious Hudson River offered variety and spectacle like never before at an ACWS regatta. Artemis Racing's victory in the first race of the day showed just how close the teams were. However, the team led by skipper and 49er Olympic champion Nathan Outteridge did not finish higher than last place after three races. It should also be noted that the sometimes completely unpredictable gusts and the wind and current conditions, which alternated in rapid succession, gave the sailing game off New York a much higher luck factor than usual in regattas. See the laughter and shouting on board the Kiwis after the final finish: Peter Burling's men could hardly believe what had just happened and their own luck. In the overall standings of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, they have extended their lead over Oracle Team USA and Team Land Rover BAR.
The final result of the ACWS regatta in New York
1st Emirates Team New Zealand (52 points)
2nd Oracle Team USA (50 points)
3rd Groupama Team France (44 points)
4th SoftBank Team Japan (42 points)
5th Land Rover BAR (42 points)
6th Artemis Racing (40 points)
Overall standings after 5 ACWS regattas
1st Emirates Team New Zealand (244 points)
2nd Oracle Team USA (236 points)
3rd Land Rover BAR (227 points)
4th SoftBank Team Japan (203 points)
5th Artemis Racing (201 points)
6th Groupama Team France (194 points)
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
