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Louie Vuitton Cup Website
Preview Race 7: Uncharacteristic and unpredictable
After yesterday’s postponement both teams are still tied having won three races each. The Louis Vuitton Cup Finals are
thrilling and uncharacteristic. The first team to win five races will become the Challengers for the America’s Cup
Match. That means we will have at least two more races and maybe but a Grand Finale on Sunday.
After the first four races Prada seemed to have the edge but the tide turned and the Italians are now under pressure to
break AmericaOne’s winning streak. AmericaOne bounced back and won the last two races.
These Finals have been uncharacteristic for a number of reasons. Beforehand we thought a lot of emphasis would be placed
on picking the first shift correctly. That would give the lead at the top mark and statistically that would imply more
than an 80 % chance of winning the race. Now, after six races, we know that is not true. Winning that first shift and
going around the top mark first proved to be no guarantee to taking the point in these Finals. In the six races so far
the top mark winner went on to win only twice. In race one Prada looked solid and in race five AmericaOne did. But four
out of six battles were decided after the fist mark.
Maybe the Italians were unhappy when the racing got postponed yesterday. They seem to have a small edge in the light
stuff. For today a ridge of high-pressure will build over New Zealand and influence Auckland’s weather. The wind is
forecast to rise to 15 knots from the Southwest in the morning. If the sky is not overcast and the land heats up
sufficiently that could cause a Northeasterly sea breeze in the afternoon.