AC World Series Plymouth - Oracle Racing gets tripped up + Video

7:42 PM Wed 14 Sep 2011 GMT

'ORACLE Racing - Racing Day 2 Plymouth (UK) - America&rsquo;s Cup World Series 2011' Guilain Grenier/Oracle Racing Click Here to view large photo

America's Cup World Series Plymouth - Oracle Racing's two crews were tripped up on Plymouth Sound in streaky and shifty winds. Oracle Racing Coutts placed fifth after the three races and Oracle Racing Spithill placed sixth.

The winds were far different from what the crews experienced during the windy practice races last weekend. But in winds around 10 knots the fleet is wide open, as evidenced by the constant place changes in each race.

Oracle Racing Spithill led the day's first race, which got underway on time but in a light, 6-8 knot breeze. The crew had a good start, led at the first reach mark and then maintained that advantage over the next two-plus legs.

On the second full run France's Energy Team rode a puff across the bows of Oracle Racing Spithill and into the race lead. Emirates Team New Zealand also got past on that leg and Oracle Racing Spithill would place third in its best finish of the day. 'Very average performance from everyone on the boat, to be honest,' said skipper James Spithill.

Despite that first race Spithill and crew had troubles on the start line today, where it is vital to slingshot off the line to ensure a strong position at the first turn. In a fleet where the competition is stacked with top sailors, the chances for coming back are diminished when you're in the pack.

'We only really got off the start line well once,' Spithill said. 'We made tactical errors. We made boathandling errors, and we just weren't sailing that fast. When you put that together you end up in the back of the pack.'

Oracle Racing Coutts also had troubles on the start line. But the crew took advantage of its opportunities in the shifty conditions. 'Today was all about sailing the correct direction, because the breeze was very shifty. If you got on the wrong side of shift, the losses were huge,' said skipper Russell Coutts. 'The boats that did well, generally, sailed the legs in-phase. 'We started poorly today. That was our biggest weakness. Other than that, we had a reasonable day,' Coutts said.