“We had two tough, really competitive races today that pushed both teams hard,” Spithill said. “And, it was a good exercise for the team, to have the cameras on and people watching. That’s the kind of pressure we need to be put under as we prepare for the Cup.”
During the Defender Access period on the course, ORACLE TEAM USA used the opportunity to practice starts and maneuvers, run through the track, and get familiar with the boundaries.
Spithill and crew moved out front early in both races, and held a narrow lead throughout, winning by 33 seconds and 56 seconds in the two races, respectively.
“It is a great chance for us to get our two boats out on the race course and throw it around a bit,” Ainslie said. “Both crews did a really good job, and for us it’s really valuable to learn about the course, the maneuvering and to really try to step up our game leading into the America’s Cup.”
The two crews will be back out on Sunday, with two practice races scheduled again. After four races over the weekend, the team will have a lot to take away and digest.
“We learned a lot, and there’s a lot we can do better. We’re going to really go through it all in detail,” Spithill said. “We want to look into how we can be more consistent. On these boats, there are always things to improve on.”
ORACLE TEAM USA will be back on the line for an 11:10 am PT start on Sunday, with the first of two practice races broadcast live on YouTube.
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