America's Cup: What to expect tomorrow

Team New Zealand in action

The PredictWind forecast for the America's Cup course area for 3 June (Sunday 4 June NZ time) is for moderate winds which sit right in the cross over range for the AC50s between their light wind foils and set ups and the stronger wind set up. I pick this currently in the 10-12 knot range. So a big decision for the teams before they head out racing on the final day of qualifiers, a decision that could prove to be a race winner, or loser. The PredictWind models are as follows for start time of the first race on the Great Sound:

PWG 7-12 knots
PWE 10-12 knots
GFS 11-15 knots
ECMWF 15-24 knots (note I would discount this model as it is "out of whack" with the others).

All the models have a south-west wind direction, which is reliable to date on the Great Sound so expect racing to start on time.

This is the wind strength to date where we have seen Team BAR competitive, but really it's only in this range where they are on the pace. Who should have the advantage in the key Emirates Team NZ versus Oracle Team USA match up? Probably Team NZ, but it will depend on what gear each boat decides to use and, if either team decide to put on their boat something we have not seen yet in racing.

It's au reviour for France tomorrow, their single race does not matter, they are out no matter the outcome.

The race schedule is as follows:

Race 12: USA vs NZL
Race 13: JPN vs GBR
Race 14: FRA vs SWE
Race 15: GBR vs USA