Emirates GBR are still aiming for a place in the Final of the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier, but they'll have to contend with different conditions on Saturday than they did on Race Day 1.
Whilst wind speeds reached upwards of 16 knots during Friday's racing, this afternoon is shaping up to be a milder affair with gusts set to peak at the 13-knot mark.
These lighter conditions mean each F50 will be fitted with the largest 29 meter wing, while crews could shift to the 4-up configuration if required throughout the day.
Racing in lighter winds requires a different skillset from competing when the gusts are stronger, but any crew who can master the conditions can force real power and speed out the 29m wing.
"It's very different conditions today," began Emirates GBR driver Ainslie. "The 29 meter wing gives us a lot more power with the boat; we can generate more speed and what we call apparent wind, and the boat just gets faster and faster.
"So it's different technique-wise for all the teams."
Ainslie hopes these varied conditions on Race Day 2 aid Emirates GBR as they bid for a much stronger performance than on the opening day in Chicago.
A 2-7-8 record leaves the Brits down in 5th, but a place in the winner-takes-all Final is undeniably up for grabs should Ainsle and Co put in a strong showing on Saturday.
Ainslie continued: "We didn't have the perfect start we wanted yesterday and we need two solid races today to give us a shot at the podium race."
Racing in Chicago resumes at 4pm CDT on Saturday, June 17. Please CLICK HERE for a full live stream of the Race Day 2 action, or visit our How to Watch page for broadcast information for your region.
