The Swedes are in and the Brits are out. Artemis came back to defeat SoftBank Team Japan 5 races to 3, while Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing was no match for the lightning-fast Kiwis.Artemis chalked up a sailing hat trick on Thursday, taking all three races from Team Japan and coming back from a 3 to 1 deficit to take the lead in the series and force a final day of racing.
Today in Bermuda, SoftBank skipper Dean Barker took a quick lead at the start, but couldn't hold off the Swedish momentum for long. Artemis helmsman Nathan Outteridge kept it close on the first run, then made the pass on the upwind leg, according to an America's Cup press release. "As Artemis Racing tacked at the edge of the race course, Barker was required to keep clear. SoftBank Team Japan made a late tack that left the boat in a vulnerable position and Outteridge pounced. Barker kept clear, but was pushed to a standstill, head to wind, while Artemis Racing sped off into the lead and into the Louis Vuitton Challenger Playoff Finals."
On Thursday, in the first race after their epic wipeout earlier this week, it looked as if Team Emirates New Zealand might not be 100%. At the start of race five, the Kiwis were well behind BAR at the start, and 24 seconds behind at the first mark. But team New Zealand slowly reeled the Brits in, and about halfway up the fifth leg (going to weather), forced port-tacking Land Rover to duck and relinquish their lead.
Land Rover BAR managed to take the next race, but finally went down to what seemed like a significantly faster boat. A press release said that Land Rover will be back in the next installment of the America's Cup, keeping the #bringthecuphome campaign alive.
From Latitude 38
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