Dubai Emirates Team New Zealand exposed the first cracks in the armour of the dominant BMW Oracle Racing team at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Dubai Wednesday.
The New Zealanders split race wins with the regatta leader, winning their second match by a nail-biting one-second margin over the fast advancing Americans.
Oracle skipper James Spithill had won the pair's first match, preserving his team's no-loss record after four days of racing off the host Dubai International Marine Club and putting the Kiwis on the back foot.
In an about-face, New Zealand's Dean Barker grabbed control at the start of the second race and led the Americans around the course.
A must-win
It was a must-win for the Kiwi team flying the flag of the United Arab Emirates. Down two races before yesterday, and docked half a point for a collision on the opening day, they ideally needed two wins to put a dent in the winning performance of the team that holds the America's Cup.
The scoreboard now has BMW Oracle Racing on seven points and Emirates Team New Zealand in second place with 3.5 points. Sweden's Artemis Racing, Synergy Russian Sailing Team and the French/German team All4One are third-equal on three points. Italy's Mascalzone Latino Audi team is sixth with two points.
Expectations were heightened at the end of the day when old Louis Vuitton Cup foes America and New Zealand lined up for their first start. Oracle's Spithill won the start and claimed the favoured right hand side of the course. The Kiwi boat led early but better conditions on the right favoured the Americans.
Barker kept it close and there were two confrontations at the top of the first leg with flogging sails, shouts and protest flags. The combatants narrowly avoided collisions and all the protests were green-flagged by the on-water umpires.
Pinned by rival
In the second race Barker was pinned by his rival in the pre-start but got out of jail with a minute remaining before the start gun. The right was favoured and the Kiwi skipper grabbed it like a drowning man.
Barker exploited his edge all around the course, remaining a couple of boat lengths clear of the attacking Americans. However the Oracle team's favourable gybe on the last leg almost robbed ETNZ of their sorely-needed point.
"It was another good close race," said Emirates tactician Ray Davies. "Obviously we're going to see a few more races like this so better get used to it..."
