I probably can't bet against NZ to be fair, and this does seem different from 2013.

This 5 day break seems a tad suspicious though...

With the history of the cup, and the tactics Oracle employ I'm still nervous as fudge. Won't feel comfortable until the cup is sitting in a 1st class seat of an Emirates plane.

As I see it Oracle will definitely be working #6. Expect Larry's lawyers to be earning their coin.

I thought for a second Oracle where going to crash into Aotearoa today. Expect NZ to raise that with the umpires again.

Not sure they can make big changes to the boat. But they have already had several weeks of knowing they aren't up to speed, actually longer, in these winds. So any big changes will already be underway if they thinking they can deploy them. But it seems the rules limit them somewhat. They could have started building batwing tips a month ago. Maybe new wing controls and certainly rudders (it's thought NZ has new rudders for the match).

Other changes are to the way they sail the boat. Copying NZ maneuvers and sailing better. ETNZ have shown there are huge gains here. I reckon Jimmy will be off the boat. If he's not winning starts then he's no good to them. Expect a new helm. Maybe Tom Slingsby taking over, or maybe a young gun. If they are out sailing in the lay days, it may show that big changes to the boat are not possible.

I really think there will be some drama left in this cycle. No way Oracle just bends over without firing some shots. They will have to start putting pressure on the kiwi's somehow/anyhow.

But boy ETNZ look unbeatable in these conditions. Pete kicked his nerves today. And whoever designed those foils needs to be knighted. Also need to force Ashby to take up NZ citizenship, tell him he's off the boat otherwise. It's for his own good.

I understand the paranoia - SF was pretty crazy. I just reject the complaint that BT are in the Oracle camp based on the coverage I have seen or the notion that this Cup at hasn't been setup fairly because I think it has. Now should Oracle go on to break the rules this week then I will happily concede that point.

Surely any changes that Oracle make will significantly affect boat handling? These crews have spent literally months if not years coming to understand how to best to sail these boats which are being raced right at the edge. Any additional speed must come at the expense of stability, and undermine Oracle's ability to navigate the course mistake free under pressure. They literally will not have the time to get to grips with the changes they'd make; they'd need weeks, not days. So, even assuming Oracle can make radical changes (unlikely), they then won't be able to handle the boat as efficiently and can't be expected to.

Unless it blows, this race is over.

That's what I meant. They're blowing so much smoke up the arse of ETNZ that by the end of the regatta they'll come out like smoked kippers. Given 2013 and that we've seen weather changes greatly affect boat speed, it's cringeworthy and makes me uncomfortable.

Oh.

So, how is it fair that Oracle are allowed two boats, but the challengers are only allowed one?

Its like saying the All Blacks are allowed a squad of 23, but the Lions are only allowed a squad of 15.

Yip. They will need upwards of 16 knot winds to stand any chance of nullifying the Kiwi advantage - assuming ETNZ haven't tweaked their high pressure mode, which I rather suspect they have. Only way Jimmy is winning this race is with a hacksaw.

Yeah I'll concede that point. What I mean by fair is the simple fact that both Artemis and now ETNZ are faster than the defender so other than being allowed a spare boat their material advantage hasn't manifested itself on the water. Yet.

I've been thinking about the conditions OTUSA have put in place for this LV and AC.

We can no longer whine about the "unfairness" as that time has passed. All the other teams knew what they were getting into when they decided to invest the millions of dollars. BAR has invested massively as a long term goal to bring the AC back home. ETNZ would sure as hell not enter if they didn't think they were in with a great chance to bring it back to Auckland. Artemis were outstanding and even Groupama were good considering their budget and very short lead in time. SBTJ were good and we know why and all teams will be back for the next iteration.

Spithill has admitted that ETNZ have a faster boat after yesterday denying it. No mind games from Jimmy at the moment. I'll be interested to watch the press conference later on.

Simply not true. How about changing the design rules 12 months after setting them? Luna Rosa had already spent $5million on the 62ft design when it was changed to the current design. They were so disgusted with the "unfairness" that they left the competition in protest, forfeiting $1 million entry fee in the bargain. There was alot of other stuff which it isn't worth getting into. Oracle have not run a fair event in the slightest.

I agree

Never said it wasn't unfair or that the rules weren't​ blatantly in favour of OTUSA. I said that the time for whining has passed. Any teams that felt that strongly could've pulled out and as you said, Luna Rosa did so.

If ETNZ win then I hope we can look forward to a more balanced LV and AC.

There's a rumour going around that ETNZ will revert to the old nationality rules. That will really screw over all the other teams, perhaps the reason why ETNZ didn't commit to the framework agreement?

All the BT commentary team have been supporting Oracle. That Oracle is not returning the favour is beyond their control.

The BT commentary of Ken Read and Alastair Eykyn has been glowing for ETNZ. And whilst they haven't been putting the boot into OTUSA, they haven't been as complimentary.

I forgot about it this morning but OTUSA had their high-speed dagger boards in today. ETNZ obviously had the same boards from yesterday in. Quite impressive that even in the higher winds they were quicker.

I will see if whatever changes or developments they've made to the boat will see a comparative let speed increase in higher winds if they end up racing in those conditions. Can anyone else recall the wind speed when they lost to OTUSA in the round robin?

Peter Lester was on the radio this morning again alluding to some very interesting/effective changes that ETNZ has made to Aotearoa but wouldn't not give any details. I would love for them to come out in higher winds, where OTUSA are supposedly stronger, and absolutely blitz them.

Newstalk ZB via the I-Heart-Radio app.

OTUSA are running out of options and time. Will they be down to taking out boat no. 2 as a "can we do something different?" and then accidentally ramming ETNZ due to the team not handling the "new set up "so well? No point having two boat rule and not using it.

I remember thinking we had it in the bag last time. And they managed to change something with a day off that changed everything. This time they have 5 days. Admittedly their boat last time had always appeared faster when they managed to stay on their foils, and that doesn't appear to be the case now.

Still, I'm not counting out OTUSA until the last race has been won.

If it gets to match point this will definitely be on the cards, as I've already pointed out.

It would not be a surprise. Burling needs to stay fast and keep his foot on Spithills neck until the last race is won.

Burling has to keep well clear of Oracle....he got way too close in the first race yesterday, and they were not even on the same leg. He cannot risk the boat like that. One "accident" is all it needs to put ETNZ out. Oracle then just needs to show up at the start line in their second boat.

Watch this space.

That's presumably about the new rudders.

That's definitely not correct. If you read the article posted by Username, it tells you just how much work in the form of other tasks the grinder/peddlers have, they are constantly making adjustments to the boat, it's just not as visible as going up the mast.

Most likely. Outteridge was saying that all the teams had a big focus on rudder development and reducing drag. He also made a comment about the lack of communication, but I think ETNZ had been keeping talk to a minimum leading into the AC.

I'd love for ETNZ to come out with some killer foils that come from the left field.

Fair enough, let me reword that: the BT sideline colour commentary team seem all to be for OTUSA.

Is that not the bulk of their viewership?

I would imagine that it's a little like cricket commentary in India; you diss the USA at your peril.

So they can't change foils. Though, think they can replace the tips, whatever that means.

They have a number of foils but they can only change a small percentage of the foils, which the rfer to as the tips. They cannot introduce new foils as I understand it.

So you will not see OTUSA with foils like ETNZ next time they're out on the water.

Ypu can bet they'll have their legal eagles looking at that rule though. Or they will have a built in rule saying they can change the rules. Since they made the rules in the first place I'm sure they didn't neglect to leave themselves some leeway.

Are you going hell for leather trying to appease the mockers gods or are you really still ranting about OTUSA's supposed dirty tricks.

Supposed???

The difference last time as I recall was the lay day and Sir Ben Ainslie to Oracle's afterguard.
I also recall that audio off the Oracle boat in race 8 in 2013 captured Ainslie telling Spithill to "shut the fuck up and drive the boat"

Oracle don't have Ainslie to call on this time. Spithill will self destruct.

That's the NBC commentary team.

I really like ken reads commentary. Although, sometimes they are not very quick to speak about what is happening on the water. It's a bit strange.

Then BT presenters lead by Clare balding are the ones who have pinned their colours to the mast of everyone ETNZ has been sailing.

Weird. The stream I watch has the BT logo but I get the NBC commentators.

There is a race replay here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr_Bf1lWhYc - with commentary from Nathan Outteridge and Chris Brady saying that Burling is in Spithills head.

Just about everything Barker was missing, that mental edge.

Last time they had boat speed. They were blinding fast but control and stability was the issue. Once they got that sorted they were untouchable. This time they have a dog and while they can probably quicken up over the next 5 days I'm not sure they can do it and maintain the same control. This will be the issue with any material change in the foil design.

I'm booking the fuckin parade.

Counting chickens.

Not yet you're not, not even halfway there yet.