Both teams struggled at the start, initially failing to get across the start line cleanly and having to loop around.
On their second crossing, the US crossed the line first, quickly taking the lead and stretching it to 225 metres over the French.
Halfway through the first leg, the French struggled in the light wind enabling the US to grow their first lead to 350 metres. The US team rounded the first gate at 5:21, and the French followed 41 seconds later.
In leg 2, the US extended their lead to 450 metres, while the French fell 550 metres off the pace. The US entered gate 2 at 8:38, speeding into leg 3 at 28 knots, with the French around the gate 20 seconds later.
The US lead narrowed to 150 metres as the French pushed hard, closing the gap to under 100 metres. By gate 3, the French were just 13 seconds behind.
The US regained their lead to 250 metres as they rounded gate 4. While the French struggled off their foils near the gate, the US took advantage, extending their lead as the French remained, … stuck.
With the French a massive 1000 metres behind and still not back on their foils, the US rounded the final gate at 20 minutes. The US secured the win with a time of 22:41. The French DNF’d, marking a tough day for them.
