After a close tussle in the pre-start and on the start of the first upwind leg, the American OneWorld syndicate showed good boatspeed to establish an unassailable lead over GBR Challenge. OneWorld, who have only lost one match to date, went onto win the shortened 12.5 mile match by one minute and five seconds.

OneWorld had the starboard entry into the start, but the crew of GBR70 managed to escape James Spithill’s clutches and claimed the pin end of the line as the gun went. OneWorld tacked to the right-hand side and crossed one second later. After two minutes, both boats tacked and it initially appeared as though Harrison’s men would cross ahead. As the boats approached each other Wight Lightning tacked on the lee bow of OneWorld, with the American team reacting by tacking off to the right. GBR Challenge tacked again, and both boats then sailed to the right-hand side of the course. OneWorld displayed better boat speed to establish a lead and force the British team to tack off.

At the windward mark, OneWorld held a 35-second lead over Wight Lightning. Harrison’s men initially looked to claw into this lead, regaining around 70 metres in a four-minute period. However, the American team found some extra pressure and rebuilt their lead to 43 seconds by the leeward mark.

On the second beat, OneWorld again covered GBR 70, to extend and round one minute and 17 seconds ahead. Harrison’s men attacked on the final run, reducing the deficit to 65 seconds at the finish.