TAG Heuer, proud sponsors of Oracle TEAM USA is excited to announce that at 4:38pm, the team crossed the finish line in San Francisco Bay and became the Winner of The 34th America’s Cup in what some say was the biggest comeback in sailing history. In a grueling comeback race that went to a dead tie in Race 19, Oracle Team USA came back from a 8 point trail to beat Emirates Team New Zealand. The team, lead by Skipper Jimmy Spithill, all used TAG Heuer’s custom AC72 digital timepiece, the first high-performance watch made specifically for sailing and able to feed live reading directly from the boat. Technologically programmed by master Engineer and Grinder, Gilberto Nobili, this timepiece demonstrated TAG Heuer’s brand legacy of pushing the limits of innovation and will be sure to change the world of sailing into the future. The piece is currently custom and not available for commercial use.
“We are extremely proud of every member of this extraordinary crew and every component on this incredible boat,” said Stéphane Linder, TAG Heuer CEO and President, after today’s race in San Francisco Bay. “ORACLE TEAM USA showed amazing drive and guts, overcoming incredible adversity–losing boat one, getting docked two races and having to give up their star wing trimmer, but they kept their nerve, worked harder, and plowed on. And they pulled it off. It was a great and glorious moment, unprecedented in the world of competitive sailing, and we are very grateful to have been a part of it.”
In honor of the partnership, TAG Heuer as the official timepiece for Team USA, created the Aquaracer 500M – Limited Edition Oracle Team USA with the custom caseback engraving of the AC72 boat. The collectors timepiece features a regatta countdown, ceramic bezel and automatic helium valve.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500 America’s Cup Automatic Countdown Chronograph Team USA Edition, 43mmAvailable at: Shop.TAGHeuer.com
The winner-take-all final race started under clear skies and 18 knot winds. Both teams were off the line clean, but ORACLE TEAM USA dug its bows in around the first mark to push them 7 seconds behind Team New Zealand. After gaining ground on the second leg, the teams split the second gate with ORACLE TEAM USA improving to 3 seconds back. Following a pair of lead changes on Leg 3 of the race, ORACLE TEAM USA took control and maintained the front spot for good. The team continued to extend on leg four and around the final gate to win by 39 seconds.
“I’d like to congratulate Emirates Team New Zealand. They are a tough team, a champion team, and we had a lot of great battles,” Spithill said. “It’s always tough when it gets to a winner-take-all scenario because it’s been such a great battle that it’s almost a crime that there has to be a winner and a loser.”
RACE 19 DATA
Course: 5 Legs/10.07 nautical miles
Elapsed Time: OTUSA – 23:24, ETNZ – 24:08
Delta: OTUSA +:44
Total distance sailed: OTUSA – 11.9 NM, ETNZ – 12.2 NM
Average Speed: OTUSA – 30.55 knots (35 mph), ETNZ – 30.55 knots (35 mph)
Top Speed: OTUSA – 44.33 knots (51 mph), ETNZ – 45.72 knots (53 mph)
Windspeed: Average – 18.2 knots, Peak – 21.3 knots
Number of Tacks/Jibes: OTUSA – 9/7, ETNZ – 9/7
STANDINGS
ORACLE TEAM USA – 9 points, 11 wins
Emirates Team New Zealand – 8 points, 8 wins
(ORACLE TEAM USA was penalized its first two victories by the International Jury)
RACE BY RACE
Race 1 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :36
Race 2 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :52
Race 3 (Sep. 8): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :28
Race 4 (Sep. 8): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :08*
Race 5 (Sep. 10): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:05
Race 6 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :46
Race 7 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:06
Race 8 (Sep. 14): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :52*
Race 9 (Sep. 15): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :47
Race 10 (Sep. 15): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :16
Race 11 (Sep. 18): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :15
Race 12 (Sep. 19): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :31
Race 13 (Sep. 20): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by 1:24
Race 14 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :23
Race 15 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :37
Race 16 (Sep. 23): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :33
Race 17 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :27
Race 18 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :54
Race 19 (Sep. 25): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :44
