Defender ORACLE TEAM USA and Challenger Emirates Team New Zealand square off in one winner-take-all race for the 162-year-old trophy. The scheduled start time is 1315.
Skippers Jimmy Spithill and Dean Barker have been in similar positions before. Spithill became the youngest skipper to win the America's Cup in 2010 when he was just 30 years old, and Barker was just 27 years old when he skippered the fifth and deciding race of the 2000 America's Cup. Barker, however, lost the 2003 and 2007 Cups as skipper of Team New Zealand.
The stakes today are quite possibly higher than any match race the two have contested against each other. Only twice before in the history of the America's Cup has there been a winner-take-all race. In 1920 the defender Resolute defeated challenger Shamrock IV to win the match 3-2. In 1983 challenger Australia II defeated defender Liberty to win the match 4-3 (coincidentally, the 30-year anniversary of that win is tomorrow, Sept. 26).
Whoever wins today's race will go down in the history books along with perhaps the most historic match of all time: The 34th America's Cup is the longest match in the history of the event at 19 days; four of the races rank in the top 10 for all-time closest finishes; the America's Cup outright speed record of 47.57 knots (55 mph or 80 feet/second) was set by Emirates Team New Zealand.
Unfortunately for the Kiwis, that speed record wasn't set upwind. That point of sail is now the domain of ORACLE TEAM USA, and it may well prove the difference in this America's Cup. ORACLE TEAM USA's AC72 looks most unbeatable when it's foiling upwind, and that was the difference maker in yesterday's second race. The Kiwis led by 7 seconds around the leeward gate, but moments later was overtaken by the defender, which closed in at 30 knots on its hydrofoils and took the lead away.
"That was the first time that we recognized there was a condition where maybe we aren't as strong as we need to be," said Barker. "It's tough. We're doing all we can, the guys never gave up, but clearly the Oracle guys were going well in that stuff."
ORACLE TEAM USA deserves props for fighting back from off the mat. Emirates Team New Zealand deserves props for setting the standard by which to be measured. Whoever wins today's race will be a worthy champion in America's Cup annals.
34th America's Cup Standings (first to 9 points wins)
ORACLE TEAM USA – 8 (10 wins; ORACLE TEAM USA was penalized its first two victories by the International Jury)
Emirates Team New Zealand – 8
34th America's Cup Race by Race
Race 1 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :36
Race 2 (Sep. 7): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :52
Race 3 (Sep. 8): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :28
Race 4 (Sep. 8): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :08*
Race 5 (Sep. 10): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:05
Race 6 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :46
Race 7 (Sep. 12): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by 1:06
Race 8 (Sep. 14): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :52*
Race 9 (Sep. 15): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :47
Race 10 (Sep. 15): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :16
Race 11 (Sep. 18): Emirates Team New Zealand d. ORACLE TEAM USA by :15
Race 12 (Sep. 19): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :31
Race 13 (Sep. 20): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by 1:24
Race 14 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :23
Race 15 (Sep. 22): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :37
Race 16 (Sep. 23): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :33
Race 17 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :33
Race 18 (Sep. 24): ORACLE TEAM USA d. Emirates Team New Zealand by :54
(* ORACLE TEAM USA's first two victories didn't count towards is scoreline as part of a penalty issued by the International Jury.)
