Chicago 2016: Saturday Race Photo Gallery

A southwest wind settled in Saturday afternoon, too late for TV, but in time to hold a provisional race.  The breeze picked up enough for the boats to spend time up on foils, but was patchy across the course.
Photo:©2016 R. Steven Tsuchiya
 

Emirates Team New Zealand foils downwind, heading for the finish line.  They opened up a huge lead of over 500m on the fleet by continuing to find pressure at the right time, usually on the offshore side of the course. ETNZ did briefly sail into a hole at the final windward mark, which sllowed Oracle Team USA to close up slightly, but the defender never really threatened the lead. 
Photo:©2016 R. Steven Tsuchiya

The crowd was pleased to see some foiling close to the AC Village. Emirates obliged them on the final leg to the finish. Photo:©2016 CupInfo
 

Above, ETNZ fell off foils just as she reached the finish line. The trapezoidal blue-white-red mark visible at left is the far end of the line, the closer finishing mark is obscured behind Oracle's boat. The white mark at right with BMW logo is the lefthand of the two gate marks. Oracle has just rounded it on the way to the finish line. Photo:©2016 R. Steven Tsuchiya
 

Oracle Team USA finished 54 seconds back, foiling across the finish past the fans on Navy Pier.  Team Japan was third.  Results won't be counted as official unless the first race Sunday is delayed. Photo:©2016 CupInfo