18:43
Confirmed then, no protest, so BMW ORACLE Racing win the 33rd America’s Cup match for the USA. A fantastic finale to this historic match.
18:37
Alinghi cross the finish line 5 minutes and 26 seconds after USA. The Swiss team were 24 seconds behind off the start line, 28 seconds behind at WW 1 mark, 2mins 44 secs behind at the gybe mark, Mark 2.
18:32
USA cross the finish line first and should lift the America’s Cup subject to any protest. The crew look delighted. It is the first time that a challenger has won a Deed of Gift match. USA win 2-0. Coutts remains unbeaten in the America’s Cup match, winning 15 Cup match races on board.
18:13
USA making a gybe to lay the finish and are back up to 18-19 knots after encountering a spell of lighter winds.
18:07
A remarkable spectacle as USA stretch towards the finish line of Race 2, towards overall victory. An American team have not won the America’s Cup since 1992 when America3 defeated Il Moro 4-1 in San Diego.
18:05
Just over 8 miles to go to the finish for USA and what is increasingly looking like a second win for BMW ORACLE Racing.
18:02
USA changed their mind at the gybe mark, choosing not to go with the bigger gennaker but to stay conservative, perhaps. USA lead by over 2000 metres.
17:55
At Mark 2 the leader’s delta is 2 minutes and 44 seconds and so USA have gained 2 minutes and 16 seconds on Alinghi 5 this 13 miles reach.
17:47
Alinghi preparing to hoist a gennaker at the gybe mark, USA hits 33 knots.
17:44
USA now over 1700 metres ahead of Alinghi 5 down the first reach, and about six minutes to the gybe mark.
17:35
So the wing weapon and tri platform does seem to be stronger on this reach, gaining to 1145 metres of lead over Alinghi 5 after about 13 minutes, or half of this first reach.
17:29
24 seconds was the delta at the start for USA when they lead Alinghi 5 off the line, and at WW1, the windward mark, the delta was 28 seconds when the BMW ORACLE Racing Team trimaran lead around the top mark. USA now extended to 740 metres after about eight minutes of this first reach. USA hits 30 knots again.
17:27
USA has a little more speed, peaking again there at 30 knots in around 8 knots of true wind speed.
17:24
USA timed, unofficially, at 28 seconds ahead at WW1 and surge immediately close to 30 knots of boat speed as they accelerate. Alinghi give chase.
17:22
An extraordinary race, no one expected to be this close as USA approach the windward mark, nearly one hour since the start. USA lead at the mark.
17:18
Alinghi cross by just over 100 metres ahead of USA, Alinghi 5 tacks and their lead drops. USA appear to be close to the port tack lay line with Alinghi to their left and behind, it is extremely close. USA may have the small advantage again.
17:12
USA have profited slightly on the left now and are now back to 260 metres behind Alinghi. USA are tacking, speed drops to 5.6kts through the tack. Alinghi preparing their hoist for the windward mark, very close at the cross.
17:08
A protest flag is being flown on Alinghi.
17:06
Three miles to the lay line, USA is closing now and has halved the distance they were behind as the breeze has backed slightly to the left again.
17:02
Alinghi have been consistently quicker over the last few minutes and their lead has grown again. Speculation over what is making Alinghi quicker includes a different mainsail, the smaller headsail and better moded with their ballast set up, but they have looked more consistent in the long swell.
16:55
And of course the advantage will stretch for whoever gets to the windward mark first as they get on to the reach first and accelerate. In very rough terms we reckon on somewhere around 500 metres of an advantage needed to unload a penalty…so if Alinghi get to the windward mark first then their hopes will rise for sure.
16:53
Around start the wind was at 100 degrees at the windward mark now it is at 120 degrees, and it has been to Alinghi’s gain now is at 450 metres. Breeze is backing again very slightly, back to 115 degrees.
16:51
Wind at the top mark is still around 7 knots at the windward mark, and a little more at the gybe mark. Alinghi weather team may have got this one right with their choice of the right, 20 degree lift.
16:46
Alinghi now 150 metres ahead and lead is growing very slowly, smaller Solent jib on today and seems to be better set up than Friday.
16:43
8.2 miles to the windward mark, Alinghi get that wind shift perfectly to make a gain and they are still profiting. The right side seems to be getting a little more pressure. USA had a small soft spot in the breeze.
16:40
And Alinghi have taken the lead, USA went slightly soft to the left and the Swiss holders gained. Loick Peyron is on the helm of Alinghi. Lead is slender 70 metres but USA tacked when they saw they could not cross Alinghi.
16:35
USA’s lead has grown to around 650 metres now, certainly a closer race than Race 1 in, although this time USA have had the upper hand since the start. USA appear to be gaining consistently on the left side of the course. The wing seems to be a potent weapon again in these marginal conditions, Dirk De Ridder always working to achieve the target angles and power, gaining real time pressure and angle info off the foil and targets. Breeze is 6-7 knots, but maybe building very slightly.
16:26
So a split on the cards, already 2000 metres of lateral separation and growing all the time. USA looks more powered up and has a lead of nearly 400 metres. USA have tacked and are in a good band of wind pressure. 13 miles first beat. Speeds are actually pretty even. Ellison and Coutts both on board USA.
16:24
Start gun goes and USA start first as Alinghi struggle to get moving, long swell, Alinghi heading to the right after picking up speed USA head left. USA accelerating quicker but boat speeds are now similar.
16:21
Alinghi have been given a penalty, we believe, for not being outside the start box when the signal went.
16:16
In fact USA have not yet rolled out a headsail but were doing over 20 knots for a few seconds. Alinghi have starboard entry and so have the rights of way, may try to pin a penalty on USA but appear to be late setting up correctly on entry and if fact get a penalty themselves.
Congratulations USA!!
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