START: In 12-knot winds it was a clean start as both yachts crossed the line together towards the committee boat end. Alinghi wanted to be to the left of Oracle and they achieved that.
MARK ONE: Oracle were the first to tack away, to which Alinghi covered. Oracle then found themselves
being bounced to the starboard layline. Alinghi excelled with better boat speed out of the tacks. Margin: Alinghi by 26s.
MARK TWO: Oracle showed their speed downwind and began to make inroads into Alinghi's lead. But disaster struck for Dickson's lot as they were dropping their spinnaker on their final approach to the mark. The result was a broken spinnaker pole and a trawled spinnaker. Oracle were on track to round the mark just 10s behind the Swiss, but the breakage dashed those hopes. Margin: Alinghi by 19s.
MARK THREE: Alinghi stormed up the second beat as Oracle's attention turned to repairing the pole and clearing their keel of spinnaker debris. Margin: Alinghi by 52s.
MARK FOUR: Oracle sailed downwind with a symmetrical spinnaker, usually reserved for conditions over 16 knots, with the aim of reducing the pressure on the wounded pole. Despite their injury Oracle again showed their pace downwind and closed the gap. Margin: Alinghi by 31s.
MARK FIVE: A change in wind direction resulted in yet another huge tacking duel in the middle of the course. But once again Alinghi showed better pace off the tacks. Margin: Alinghi by 48s.
MARK SIX: The Swiss team did not escape the match unscathed, running into a problem with their spinnaker control gear. However, it was quickly addressed. Margin: Alinghi by 40s.
