Oracle BMW again made excellent use of superb racing conditions on the Hauraki Gulf this afternoon, to take a 3-0 lead in their quarterfinal Louis Vuitton Cup series against fellow Americans OneWorld.
The San Franciso-based Oracle campaign needs only one more win to advance directly to the semi-finals of the regatta to decide who will challenge Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in February.
There was a lot of action in the pre-start of today's match but, as the countdown progressed, the boats split off and started at opposite ends of the start line.
OneWorld helmsman James Spithill took USA-65 to the Committee Boat end of the line while Oracle's USA-76 started at the pin end on the left.
A quick left shift favoured Oracle, but the OneWorld crew hung in and was rewarded for its patience with a big wind shift to the right.
Spithill converted this advantage into a tenuous eight-second lead at the top mark, but Chris Dickson sailed USA-76 like a demon on the run. The Oracle BMW boat showed great speed, while Dickson and helmsman Peter Holmberg positioned it well. They eventually forced OneWorld well past the layline before gybing back to lead around the bottom mark.
From there Dickson covered well, and extended to the finish.
It was the 10th win in a row for Oracle during this Louis Vuitton Cup regatta.
Winds: SW 13-18k
Winning margin: 00.19
Oracle BMW leads the best-of-seven series 3-0.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Dickson and Oracle look unstoppable
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