Miracle

That is what is needed now by Team Oracle USA. They were comfortably beaten twice today by challengers Emirates Team New Zealand to take the Americas Cup final points board to 6-1. In fact in the 2nd race Burling humiliated Spithill who failed to box in his rival before the start line and had to watch Burling accelerate into a 13-second lead before Spithill had even crossed the start line. Cameras showed Burling wave at Spithill as he raced past him.

An Oracle miracle is now needed. Yes, 4 years ago in San Francisco the Americans came from 1-8 to beat the Kiwi challengers 9-8 in what is described by people who know nothing of Charlton’s win over Huddersfield in 1957 as the best ever comeback in world sports.

Tonight that must be the only thread of conmfort in Oracle skipper’s Jimmy Spithill and his team’s camp as they sleep before tomorrow’s next round of races, two in total, both of which Team Oracle have to win to take the 35th Americas Cup into Tuesday. If the Americans clean those up as well then it goes onto Wednesday, the final day of this 6-week festival of speed, thrills, spills and technological innovation on a 45ft racing yacht in the turquoise waters of Bermuda.

Spithill who has lost 7 of his last 8 races against Team Emirates may well cite the 2013 comeback, as he did in the post race press conference, but it is hard to find comparisons. As Jimmy pointed out the teams are the same but that is where the similarities end. All but one of the NZ crew is different, including fearless 26-year skipper Peter Burling, and the competition and the boats are incomparable. And crucially 4 years go it was the Americans who were known the have the innovation and the speed even though they trailed horribly. The speed and innovation is wholly with the Kiwi’s.

Match point to New Zealand. Spithill needs more than new balls please, he needs a miracle.