America’s Cup reaches crossroads as the Kiwis near victory
Hamilton, Bermuda — The first and perhaps only America's Cup sailed in the Bermuda Triangle could be over as soon as Sunday afternoon, bringing champagne showers to the Great Sound and changes to sailing's marquee regatta.
That is, unless Jimmy Spithill and Oracle Team USA have any comeback magic left.
That'll be a big ask, considering how fast and dominating helmsman Peter Burling and Emirates Team New Zealand were in routing Oracle in the first four races last weekend.
After a five-day break, the showdown between 50-foot foiling catamarans resumes with two races today, if there's enough wind, and two Sunday.
The Kiwis lead 3-0 in the first-toseven match. Because Oracle won the qualifiers, the Kiwis started at minus-1.
The underfunded yet scrappy Kiwis need four more wins to give American software billionaire Larry Ellison the heave-ho and take the silver trophy back to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland, where it resided from 1995-2003.
Perhaps the most keen observer this weekend will be New Zealander Russell Coutts, one of the most dominant figures in the regatta's history. He once sailed undefeated through three straight America's Cup matches for two countries, the first two with Team New Zealand and the third for Switzerland, before winning two more as CEO of Oracle Team USA. His quest for a third victory as Ellison's top sailing lieutenant is in jeopardy.
Coutts, who is in the unusual role of also being CEO of the America's Cup Event Authority, has been at Oracle's base trying to help the team figure out how to sail the boat better.
Without time to make major modifications to the boat, technique will be key against the Kiwis, who have been spot-on in maneuvering their boat, especially in light to medium breeze.
"I have no doubt that there are gains there, and there are significant gains that can be made," said Coutts, who has had a hand in winning five of the last six America's Cup matches.
Coutts was working with the Oracle crew this week to improve its decision-making.
In sailing these boats, split-second decisions can lead to big gains or big losses.
"Is it possible? Of course it's possible," Coutts said. "Absolutely. Even if you can't change equipment, you can definitely dream up ways of sailing the boat better and using better technique."
That's pretty much how Oracle launched its comeback from an 8-1 deficit to Team New Zealand in 2013. The crew quickly learned to sail the boat better and won eight straight races to complete one of the greatest comebacks in sports.