Error-filled race puts OneWorld on brink

Special to The Seattle Times

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — San Francisco-based Oracle BMW Racing brought Seattle's OneWorld Challenge to the brink of elimination yesterday in the America's Cup trials with a 55-second victory.

Oracle won its third straight against OneWorld in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinal-repechage round. The winner of the best-of-seven series will advance to next month's challenger finals.

Oracle's victory gives it match point and a 3-0 lead in the series. OneWorld also has a race penalty point due to a rules violation.

To win the series, OneWorld now has the daunting task of winning five races in a row.

Yesterday's race was highly aggressive, but it was largely won and lost at the start, where OneWorld fell into double trouble as its helmsman, James Spithill, faced off again against Oracle helmsman Peter Holmberg.

Both yachts luffed their sails into the wind at the starting line for more than two minutes in a 13-knot breeze, causing the boats to drift backward.

As the windward boat, OneWorld had the duty to grant Oracle the right of way but failed to keep clear of Oracle. An on-board umpire immediately raised a penalty flag that would require OneWorld to do an extra turn around a buoy.

OneWorld's blue-hulled yacht then turned and accelerated, but crossed the starting line a second ahead of the gun, an error that required it to circle around and cross the starting line again.

Oracle's back-hulled racing machine charged ahead. When the two yachts first crossed tacks, Oracle was 3 boat lengths ahead.

OneWorld rallied, capitalizing on wind shifts to briefly catch up to Oracle as the breeze built. Strong winds on the left side of the course near Motutapu Island enabled Oracle to regain a lead of 5 boat lengths.

Oracle rounded the first mark 36 seconds ahead.

On the first downwind run, OneWorld launched an attack that reduced Oracle's lead to just eight seconds at the second mark.

Oracle expanded its lead to 14 boat lengths on the next downwind leg and rounded the fourth mark with a lead of 1 minute, 11 seconds.

OneWorld attacked again on the final downwind run and cut Oracle's lead to 4 boat lengths. But by the time OneWorld executed its penalty turn, Oracle had crossed the finish line 55 seconds ahead.

Oracle radar questioned

An international jury is scheduled to rule today on whether a goose-shaped radar on the stern of Oacle's boat is legal, sources said.

Regatta rules forbid a boat from carrying any gear during a race that can receive or transmit any data from outside the yacht.

BMW engineers recently developed a system that enables Oracle sailors to receive the boat's live performance data on their sunglasses, directly in their line of sight. Oracle claims the device does not violate the rules because it operates solely within the parameters of its boat.

Semifinal repechage

(best of seven)

Thursday

Oracle def. OneWorld by 4 minutes, 8 seconds.

Friday

Oracle def. OneWorld by 3 seconds.

Yesterday

Oracle def. OneWorld by 55 seconds (Oracle 3, OneWorld -1).

Louis Vuitton Cup

Jan. 11-25

Alinghi vs. semifinal-repechage winner in best of nine.

America's Cup