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Oracle v New Zealand is Cup’s key clash

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Oracle beat Team New Zealand last Saturday. Can they repeat the dose again today? (Photograph by Ricardo Pinto/ACEA via AP)

Welcome to Day 7 of the 35th America’s Cup, presented by Louis Vuitton.

The final day of the Louis Vuitton Qualifiers starts with Oracle Team USA entering on port and Emirates Team New Zealand coming in on starboard. This match will determine if Oracle goes into the America’s Cup Match putting a negative point on their opponents.

If Team New Zealand lose, Oracle would tie them on eight points. Since Oracle came ahead of New Zealand in the America’s Cup World Series, they would win on the tiebreaker. If Oracle were to defeat Land Rover BAR in the final match of the day, the tie would be broken anyway.

If Team New Zealand win, they would be on nine points and Oracle could not catch them.

It is a little early to say Team New Zealand would get a point if they win. However, they are still the top challenger in the Qualifier series and will get their choice of opponents in the Playoff Semi-Finals.

Then, to put that negative point on Oracle, New Zealand will have to win their Play-off semi-final and Play-off final. So, Team New Zealand would still have ten races to win to get to Oracle again.

Winds should be south-southwest at around 14kts. The day is shaping up as a repeat of yesterday with shifty breeze flowing over the hills of Somerset on to the Great Sound.

Review

Day 6

Three teams were fighting for survival yesterday, SoftBank Team Japan (3), Artemis Racing (2) and Groupama Team France. The Swedes won a classic match against Oracle Team USA and another classic performance against Team Japan.

Team New Zealand dominated both opponents. They eliminated Team France from the America’s Cup play-off competition and handed Team Japan their other loss on the day.

BAR were idle yesterday, but took some practice time on the Great Sound.

Racing schedule RR 2, Race 12: Oracle Team USA v Emirates Team New Zealand (2.08pm)

RR 2, Race 13: SoftBank Team Japan v Land Rover BAR (2.37pm)

RR 2, Race 14: Groupama Team France v Artemis Racing (3.06pm)

RR 2, Race 15: Land Rover BAR v Oracle Team USA (3.35pm)

Emirates Team New Zealand fans send off their team before today's racing (Photograph by Talbot Wilson)