In the third race of the 32nd America's Cup today,
the Kiwi's were in a starboard tack position and
able to force Alighi to duck them. Instead, they
tacked to port.

What was a possible reason for doing this?

Would you have done anything differently? If
so what?

Bart wrote:

In the third race of the 32nd America's Cup today,
the Kiwi's were in a starboard tack position and
able to force Alighi to duck them. Instead, they
tacked to port.

What was a possible reason for doing this?

Would you have done anything differently? If
so what?

1) See Oz's answer.

2) In almost all of the races that I saw throughout the LV cup and the
three AC races of this round, the wind has built from the right, and
shifted to the right: So why is that Alinghi insists on going left and
opening huge gauges with their opponents? They should have won the
third race, but elected to allow a gap over a kilometer to open with
Kiwis, a small wind shift cost them the race. I think it's largely
arrogance, "Our boat is so much faster that we don't have to pay
attention to the competition, we'll just sail where we please and win
anyway", it's cost them two races so far.

Cheers
Marty