RR2, Race 12: Oracle Team USA bt Emirates Team New Zealand by 0:29

The ultimate match of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers — a grudge match between the defender Oracle Team USA, winner of AC34 in San Francisco, and Emirates Team New Zealand, the top-ranked challenger.

The pre-race was rather ordinary until both boats started their final run up to the line. Oracle got an over lap to leeward and forced Team New Zealand up to the mark. They got the hook and the Kiwis copped a penalty for not keeping clear.

To wipe off their penalty, Team New Zealand had to drop off two boat lengths. They trailed into the downwind gate by nine seconds splitting tacks with Oracle. Team New Zealand got a great shift and more pressure on the left and came back on port but could not clear and had to duck Oracle.

Team New Zealand passed Oracle on a right hand shift then coming into the mark Oracle got the puff and the lift and got the lead again. The Kiwis came back, crossed ahead and tacked on Oracle’s bow, but Oracle shot inside at the mark and took the lead.

There was a penalty request by Oracle, but it was denied by the umpires.

The Kiwis trailed downwind by about 280 metres. Then they went over the boundary and got a penalty. They did not clear it properly so they got a second penalty. Going into the final leg, New Zealand trailed by 27 seconds.

Oracle win. Their opponents in the America’s Cup Match will come in with minus-1 point. Oracle will have to win seven matches to keep the Cup. The challenger will have to win eight races to get to seven points and win.

RR2, Race 13: Land Rover BAR bt SoftBank Team Japan by 0:13

Land Rover BAR took the start against SoftBank Team Japan with a nifty move to get above Dean Barker’s team. They were close to the pin but Sir Ben Ainslie did not have an overlap. He was able do drive off to cross thee line ahead of Team Japan and then stalled their opponents out below them, peeled away and got up to speed first to pull away.

BAR led by 22 seconds at Mark 1 and more at the bottom.

Japan got up the left side of the course and closed the gap 40 metres as they tacked on to starboard and crossed at 30 metres.

The boats approached the mark with a port-starboard crossing with Japan on port. BAR had to duck and pressed the penalty button and Team Japan were called. They had to give up two boat lengths to wipe off the penalty.

Team Japan got a favoured shift and pulled close going into Mark 4 just five seconds behind and splitting directions. Down the course Team Japan crossed 70 metres behind. Then 70 metres behind on the next cross. Ainslie made another clean, dry tack on to starboard and they had to lay this mark to win. They did it and sped around the mark still ahead.

BAR did one gybe to get around the middle mark staying ahead and turned left onto the blast reach to the finish.

Land Rover took the point with a convincing win to lift their spirits. Team Japan are struggling with tactics and speed.

RR2, Race 14: Artemis Racing bt Groupama Team France by 2:35

Artemis Racing blocked out Groupama Team France at the windward end of the line. Team France could not force their way in and copped a penalty, and it was ruled a double penalty because the umpires ruled it deliberate. They had to give up two boat lengths, twice.

France did a double gybe going on to Leg 3 and sailed through it very slowly with both hulls down. Then they sailed to the boundary, went too far and got another penalty.

Artemis were out for a Saturday sail with the French who head out of America’s Cup today. The wind had dropped out to about 9kts. And it was easy going for the Swedes. Going on to Leg 4 they led by 1min 28sec. Artemis gained on every leg. The wind went down to 8.5 kts.

Artemis beat Team France with no mercy. This is Artemis Racing’s third win in a row since their day off. Are they a gathering force, getting back into their practice pace-setting form? Tune in for the Playoff Semi-Finals, starting tomorrow.

RR2, Race 15: Oracle Team USA bt Land Rover BAR by 0:36

Land Rover BAR entered on port tack and headed out deep down in the box.

Oracle Team USA came after them and chased BAR back toward the line. They faked a hook move, bore off and got ahead of BAR. Sir Ben Ainslie was not happy about it at all.

Jimmy Spithill powered Oracle ahead to the start line, cracking off on the fast reach to move in front of BAR and dump a lot of bad air, now called wing wash, on the boat behind to slow them down.

At the bottom they split. Ainslie went left and Oracle right. Coming back across Spithill called for a tack in the face of BAR to dump more bad air back down the course. Spithill’s match-racing experience paid off all day.

But BAR should be happy with their tacks and gybes with their crew coming off a day’s rest. BAR are reducing the number of mistakes and look smoother around the course. Oracle Team USA did not pull away. BAR were put on their back foot at the start and never were able to recover.

BAR got good pressure going up the left after turning upwind but still trail by about 80 meters. The length of the lead always changes at the weather mark when the first boat gets around and picks up more speed off the wind. The opposite happens at the leeward mark to close up a lead.

Ainslie tacked and headed for the left hand gate. USA went around first to the right then had to do a gybe to get around the mid-course mark and turn there to reach to the finish.

Oracle Team USA add another point. This is their last race until June 17 when the America’s Cup Match begins.