By JULIE ASH
Oracle BMW Racing left it until the last minute yesterday to reveal they would stay with USA76 for their clash against OneWorld in the semifinal repechage of the challenger series, which starts today.
Oracle had until 1.05pm to notify organisers if they intended to change yachts for the
best-of-seven series.
At the skippers' media conference in the morning, Oracle navigator Ian Burns said his team were still deciding whether to stay with USA76 , the yacht they had used throughout the regatta, or introduce USA71.
"We haven't finalised that decision yet. We're still considering a couple of options.
"We've been refining a few things on the boats, a few subtle changes, and we think they're pretty good."
Then came the announcement.
Oracle used USA76 when they beat OneWorld 4-0 in the quarter-finals, which was the last time the two American teams met.
In that series, OneWorld used USA65, but chief executive Gary Wright said his team had chosen their second yacht, USA67, for the repechage, which decides who meet Alinghi in the final.
"USA65 has been in the shed for a while," he said. "We've been doing a fair amount of modifications, and considering our race schedule lately, we've had very little time for testing. And looking at the forecast for the next couple of days, we are happy to go with USA67."
Oracle and OneWorld have had little time to prepare for the repechage. Oracle ended their semifinal series against Alinghi on Monday, losing 4-0, while OneWorld's drawn-out battle with Prada (which OneWorld won 3-2) finished on Tuesday.
OneWorld go into the series with a one-point deficit after the America's Cup arbitration panel ruled they had other teams' design information and docked them a point in any remaining rounds.
The penalty means OneWorld have to win five races to beat Oracle.
"Our record against Oracle isn't such a good one," Wright said. "But we've been doing a lot of changes over the past week, so we're feeling pretty confident."
Racing is due to start at 1.15pm. Light winds have been predicted.
The repechage has to be completed on December 28, giving the teams nine days. If it is not, the score will stand, unless it is 3-3. Then a sail-off will be required.
The challengers' final starts on January 11.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By JULIE ASH
Oracle BMW Racing left it until the last minute yesterday to reveal they would stay with USA76 for their clash against OneWorld in the semifinal repechage of the challenger series, which starts today.
Oracle had until 1.05pm to notify organisers if they intended to change yachts for the
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