Race 1: Oracle Team USA bt Groupama Team France by 2:11

Oracle Team USA got a clear win over Groupama Team France in race one of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers this afternoon.

Both teams made a deep dive into the starting area, with Team France entering the box about six seconds after their two-minute entry time. No problem there.

Both dug deep in the box and as they turned back towards the start. Oracle made several moves to keep the French on their back foot.

They hit the line together with Oracle to windward. Oracle put the pedal to the metal and left the hapless Frenchmen in their wake.

Oracle led start to finish. America’s Cup defender USA wins by 2min 11sec. USA gained distance on every leg.

This racing is all about speed. Oracle have two points on the board as they carry a bonus point from the America’s Cup World Series. France, zip.

Race 2: Artemis Racing bt SoftBank Team Japan by 0:13

SoftBank Team Japan set up several boat lengths to weather at the start, nearer the right end of the line. They led Artemis Racing by several lengths around the middle, reaching mark and looked to be well in control.

They had a ten-second lead at the second mark and built on that on the next leg. It was classic match racing — tack and cover upwind and gybe to stay in clear air downwind.

The west wind off of the land was shifting 30 degrees, mostly to the south/left side. Artemis were able to split away at the downwind gate and take the favoured left-hand side of the course. They then were able to pick a big left-hand shift, tack on it and climb back up the course ladder to pass Japan.

When they came back together on the same tack, Artemis were leeward boat. The Swedes luffed Japan up into the wind and forced Japan to tack away.

That was the race. Artemis went into speed mode and protected their lead. They took Dean Barker and Team Japan by 13 seconds.

Race 3: Emirates Team New Zealand bt Groupama Team France by 2:33

Emirates Team New Zealand got on the scoreboard in the third race of the day. Both Team France and Team New Zealand dug deep into the starting box, but France went too deep. New Zealand led them back to the line and crossed with good pace and France two boat lengths clear astern.

New Zealand, like Oracle in race one, led from start to finish, beating the French by 2min 33sec.

Team New Zealand look very fast and smooth with perfect foiling tacks. Race five with New Zealand facing Oracle will be a match of the day.

Race 4: Land Rover BAR bt Artemis Racing by 0:11

This was a huge upset, as Land Rover BAR came out swinging against the Swedish challenger. Everyone now knows that Sir Ben Ainslie’s team had some hidden speed. BAR had been essentially winless in practice, and Artemis were at the top. This may have been an upset, but Ainslie is a tough competitor and has kept his cards close to his chest.

BAR took the leeward end of the starting line at the beginning. Artemis were trying another “gap” start to windward but could make it over the top. BAR were two seconds ahead at the middle mark. Ainslie gained and lost time difference on subsequent legs, but never gave up the lead.

The British underdogs won by 11 seconds and top the leaderboard at three points, adding this win to the two points they got for winning the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. Artemis stay at one point at the finish of the day for them.

Race 5: Oracle Team USA bt Emirates Team New Zealand by 0:06

Wow. Oracle Team USA came through to win race five and stand 2-0 on the day. Team New Zealand trailed at the start and trailed around the middle and down to the leeward mark. They chose to follow Oracle around the left-hand gate and did a tighter, faster rounding and split off to the left.

New Zealand picked up a wind shift on the left side again and, in splitting upwind, had one fewer tack than Oracle and were able to pass. The Kiwis were able to build a lead of up to 300 metres.

Jimmy Spithill, known as “Pitbull”, kept the pressure on and he was able to split away on the next upwind leg and got within 16 metres. This time Oracle had the split and the lift, and one fewer tack,

Oracle got an overlap and the right to round inside at the left-hand gate mark. Spithill drove New Zealand up past the mark and luffed twice to stop the Kiwis cold. Oracle bore away in the lead and carried that to the finish for a six-second win. A big point for Oracle.

Race 6: SoftBank Team Japan bt Land Rover BAR by 0:48

The final race of the day started with a bang even before the start. Team Japan and BAR were making their final run to the line and Team Japan came on strong, with pace, rounding. They crossed behind BAR going very fast and rounded up underneath them with luffing tights to go up head to wind.

BAR did not keep clear and actually seemed to bounce down towards Japan. They separated briefly, then BAR crashed down on to SoftBank Team Japan. It wasn’t a “love tap”.

BAR’s leeward hull popped up. It actually rode up on the side of Team Japan’s starboard hull as crewmen dived away to safety. There was damage to BAR’s hull as layers of carbon peeled away throughout the race.

A penalty was imposed on BAR and since it was in the pre-start, they had to give Japan a lead of two boat lengths over the starting line. Japan were off to a flyer and BAR could never recover.

Japan finished 48 seconds ahead to take the point.

After six races, adding in the America’s Cup World Series bonus points, Oracle Team USA and Land Rover BAR have three points, Sweden, Japan and New Zealand one point and Team France are winless.