Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand and
Luna Rossa Challenge. The final culminated
in a challenge between Oracle Team USA
and Emirates Team New Zealand.
first time racing was inshore not offshore,
the first time all teams raced in wing sail
catamarans the first time the AC72 "50 mph
flying boats" foil above the water and the
first time there was a new pathway series for
youth sailors, the Red Bull Youth America's
Cup and the first America's Cup held in the
USA since 1995.
the cup in a winner-takes-all 19th race,
defeating challenger Emirates Team New
Zealand by 44 seconds. The team, led
by 35-year-old skipper Jimmy Spithill,
led the Oracle team's charge in what has
been termed "one of the most improbable
comebacks in the history of sport".
penalty imposed by the International Jury,
even though at one point the team trailed
the series 8-1, with the challenger on match
point. The eight consecutive victories by the
team have been viewed as nothing short of
a miracle. This is the second America's Cup
We wouldn't have it any other way. We
came from behind, the guys showed so
much heart. On your own you're nothing, but
a team like this can make you look great...
We were facing the barrel of a gun at 8-1
and the guys didn't even flinch. "Thanks to
San Francisco, this is one hell of a day."
race accumulated in a winner-take-all final
the defender won in 1920 and the challenger
won in 1983. Both times the winner rallied
from a multi-race deficit, but never anything
amounting to eight straight wins.
Oracle managed to clinch the title by beating
all odds and coming from so far behind. Did
it have an unfair advantage? Was it because
of superior technologies? Illegal equipment?
An act of God?