In 2013, the America’s Cup took on a global appeal as never before, with Oracle Team USA staging a miracle comeback to win 9-8 over Emirates Team New Zealand. Few will recall that the American syndicate were forced to start the Match with two penalty points because of a rules infraction in qualifying, meaning they had to win 11 races to successfully defend the Cup.

Losing the first three races significantly increased the odds before Sir Ben Ainslie, who subsequently has led a gallant attempt on the 2017 vintage in Bermuda with Land Rover BAR, joined Oracle as tactician and helped to change their luck. In the build-up to a repeat of that final between Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand, The Royal Gazette presents a rerun of the contest that presented the drama of sport at its finest.

Day 5: Sept 14

Race eight brought Team New Zealand to the brink of disaster. Leading from the start to midway up the third leg, Team New Zealand were tacking back to starboard to once again cover Oracle. However, a lack of hydraulic power at a crucial moment during the turn meant that the large wingsail did not move in time. The boat’s starboard hull rose out of the water and Aotearoa came within a degree of capsizing. To add insult to injury, Dean Barker was penalised for failing to give way to Oracle, who were on starboard tack at the time. Merely glad to have their boat in one piece, the New Zealanders followed Jimmy Spithill to the finish 52 seconds behind.

Oracle’s victory completed the penalty imposed by the International Jury, allowing them to accrue points for any subsequent victories.

Team New Zealand were ahead during the third leg of the day’s second race, but it was abandoned by the race committee owing to the wind exceeding the allowable maximum of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26mph).

Day 6: Sept 15

Race nine showed Oracle Team USA at their best. Spithill again won the start, and extended the lead at every mark including for the first time, a notable gain against the Kiwi boat on the upwind leg. Recording consecutive victories for the first time allowed Oracle to finally get a point, with the score at 6-1.

Team New Zealand won race ten by 16 seconds, in what was widely reported as one of the most exciting America’s Cup races of all time. Barker looked to have been left behind by Spithill at the start line, but just managed to hold an overlap as the AC72s entered the three-boat-length circle at the reach mark. Team New Zealand took the three-second lead, and increased it to 11 at the second mark. Oracle again showed their new competitiveness during the upwind beat, and the lead changed three times. As the boats approached the top mark on split tacks, Barker cleverly slowed the boat, and then aimed down to pass under Oracle at speed.

The top-mark split was only one second as Oracle rounded in front of the shore, and Aotearoa rounded the other mark. With the race still too close to call during the downwind leg, Spithill made the call to dip behind Team New Zealand rather than gybe. The gap almost instantly became 100 metres. Barker was able to hold this lead to the finish to take the series to 7-1.

Day 7: Sept 17

High winds postponed racing on day seven. Both teams were keen to race, and headed out to the starting area. However, the start time for the first race was pushed back several times because of the 20.1-knot wind limit, and with the wind continuing to increase, at 1.31pm the race committee made it official.

Day 8: Sept 18

Team New Zealand led all the way to win race 11 by 15 seconds to move to match point in the race for the Cup. Oracle performed well on the upwind beat, but Team New Zealand covered well, and the boats rounded opposite marks 17 seconds apart. At the final mark, Barker kept Aotearoa between Oracle and the mark, and the rounding was well below the usual speed. Team New Zealand were able to accelerate away, leaving Oracle almost dead in the water on the sprint to the finish line, taking the score to 8-1. The second race of the day suffered a 15-minute wind-delay postponement, right as the boats hit the start line. The boats made their way back to the starting area, but the wind and the strong outgoing tide combined to confirm the postponement of racing for the day.

Day 9: Sept 19

Trying to wrap things up in the first race of the day, Barker was aggressive in the pre-start. It did not pay off, and Spithill was able to get into a position where Team New Zealand were forced to keep clear. From that lead off the start line, Oracle led the whole race to win race 12 by 31 seconds on the line.

The start time for the second race of the day was pushed back several times because of the wind exceeding the allowed limit. Racing was then postponed for the day, allowing Oracle to stay alive for another day.

Tomorrow: You have got to be kidding me!