The America's Cup appeared to be over and done with after Emirates Team New Zealand took a seven point lead against Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA after working so hard to get the trophy in his hands, it was about to fall - then the team started winning, setting up a race on Wednesday that will decide one of the oldest trophies in sports
According to ESPN.com, Oracle Team USA has completes its amazing comeback, taking the past 10 races to get things even and this comes after the team previously lost points before the event even started. The team could have won the Auld Mug already, but the team was docked points earlier for issues with their boats and that put New Zealand in position to win for the second time in just under two decades, but obviously things have changed.
The races will be broadcast on YouTube and will begin at 1:15 PM on Wednesday and depending on the weather, which has been an issue the whole event. The docking of points put the Americans in a very tough situation and now many feel that the pressure is on the "Kiwis" or Emirates New Zealand, as they had to win just one more point and race to get the cup, but clearly they have yet to do that.
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The Oracle Team USA was given no chance by many of coming back after going down 8-1, but now things have changed and everything is left to one more race. ESPN.com reported that the Americans were able to pass New Zealand and took a big enough lead to win the race by nearly a minute. The team felt that the original penalties were wrong to be administered anyway and the team has used it as motivation to keep going in the race.
Ellison was missing from an important speech for his company to take part in the race and now the Americans are in the position to win. The New Zealand team dealt with penalties as well during the race and that allowed Oracle to get the lead back and now everything is tied up for Race 19. Oracle has had to make multiple comebacks with no room for error and the team was down 7-0 and 8-1 at various points, but was able to hold to keep themselves alive.
New Zealand has been upset about weather delays and other issues and after taking the races on Tuesday, the Oracle team has now won nine of the last 13 races in the event and after Race 13 was scrapped due to weather, New Zealand had to rebound once again. It appears the pressure is mounting for the team and Wednesday could be the end of it.
The America's Cup has been embroiled in drama ever since Ellison got his hands on it, as the winner gets to dictate the rules and this time around numerous things were changed up. The event was scheduled for San Francisco Bay and new types of equipment and boats were involved and while there have been a number of weather delays, pushing things past the scheduled finish, USA now has the chance to win.
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