Another dominating performance by BMW Oracle, although the trimaran actually crossed behind Alinghi on the starboard layline, BMW/Oracle proved simply too fast for Alinghi. Allowing Alinghi to get to the right-hand side of the course with leverage, BMW saw it’s early lead on the upwind leg evaporate, but slowly ground back into the race on the long starboard tack to the layline. Then, somewhat inexplicably, Alinghi crossed ahead and did not tack on BMW/Oracle, which allowed the trimaran to sneak ahead at the weather mark. From there, BMW/Oracle disappeared from Alinghi with a commanding boat speed edge.
Alinghi again put itself under great pressure right from the start of this race, making a fundamental timing error before the start which caused it to carrry a turn penalty, right from the start.
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