Oracle goes 2-1 to take lead in America’s Cup qualifiers
Two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA won’t go undefeated in this America’s Cup regatta and Groupama Team France won’t go winless.
On an afternoon of light, shifty winds on the turquoise waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound, Golden Gate Yacht Club’s Oracle won two of three races to take a two-point lead in the America’s Cup qualifiers.
Groupama Team France opened Sunday’s racing with a stunning upset of Artemis Racing of Sweden.
If Oracle wins the qualifiers, it will carry a one-point bonus into the first-of-seven America’s Cup match beginning June 17.
“It was a day where it was really easy to make mistakes,” said Spithill, who led Oracle to a rousing comeback win over Emirates Team New Zealand in the 2013 America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay.
With the weekend crowded because of Friday’s schedule being blown out by too much wind, Oracle was the only team to sail three races Sunday.
Because of the way the rotation works, Aussie Ky Hurst sailed the last two races.
Oracle Team USA (5 points); Emirates Team Zealand (3), Land Rover BAR (3); Artemis Racing (2); SoftBank Team Japan (1); Groupama Team France (1).