It's a big day on the water for Oracle

By JULIE ASH

Chris Dickson's Oracle BMW Racing put in one of their best performances yesterday, beating OneWorld on day one of the semifinal repechage in the Louis Vuitton challenger series.

Oracle now have a two-point advantage over their American rivals, who began the best-of-seven series with a one-point deficit.

After a short delay because of light winds and a major windshift, OneWorld were first over the line, powering across at the pin end. They forced Oracle out to the right and took an early advantage.

But Cameron Dunn, high up the Oracle mast, called for his team to cross to the left side of the race course if given the opportunity.

On the second cross OneWorld let Oracle switch sides to gain the starboard advantage. That proved a costly mistake as Oracle moved to the left, leaving OneWorld in their wake and 49s behind at the first mark.

Peter Holmberg started at the wheel for Oracle, but Dickson took over for the first beat before handing it back to Holmberg for the rest of the race.

OneWorld closed the gap to 42s at the second mark and showed tremendous strength upwind to round the third mark 25s behind after an almighty tacking duel.

Oracle extended their lead to 37s at the fourth mark, but up the last beat it was game on as OneWorld clawed their way back in yet another impressive tacking duel, closing the gap to just 10s at the last mark.

But while Oracle rounded the mark and headed straight for home, OneWorld gybed immediately, heading out to the right.

The move did not pay off, as Oracle landed the breeze and stormed home to win by a huge margin of 4m 8s.

OneWorld trimmer Joe Newton, explaining how his team lost the lead on the first beat, said: "Our weather team initially called the left and James [Spithill] did a great job of getting exactly what we wanted off the start line.

"I believe we felt we made enough of a gain and it was time to start playing it safe."

And on the last run?

"Oracle did a great job all day defending. We thought they might be able to hold us off downwind if we stuck with them. It was pretty much rolling the dice.

"If we had just stayed with them and the wind had gone left it wouldn't have put us in a great position to get around them anyway.

"It seemed the better option at the time and unfortunately it didn't work. If either boat had made a mistake it would have been disastrous for them and that's what we were hoping for - Oracle to make a mistake and let us through. I think the boats are relatively even."

Each team completed about 60 tacks throughout the match, giving their sails a major workout.

"I think earlier in the rounds - you only have 45 sails for the series - you are conscious of saving them until the end, but this is do or die. There might be no tomorrow," Oracle strategist Eric Doyle said.

The Oracle afterguard were also wearing devices developed by BMW on their heads.

"It is a heads-up display, it is a wireless connection to the instruments," Doyle said. "I sit in the back of the boat and I struggle to see the instruments through bodies. This has a tiny screen I can put down and call up different readouts."

Race two is scheduled to start today at 1.15pm. Race organisers have predicted light south-westerly winds with sea breezes.

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