Episode 12 Sailing: America's Cup

The America's Cup has a long tradition of producing dramatic

moments as sailors compete to be crowned the best. 162 years ago, the

schooner America won the first race around the Isle of Wight. The cup

was christened there and then. Three years ago, Oracle Team USA won the

cup. The campaign, skippered by James Spithill, was bankrolled by a

billionaire. As holders, or the defender, they get to make the

rules, choose the venue and design the boats for the very next event.

The idea is that the boats are as close as possible in design, so it

is a real test for the crew on board. The boats for this cup are 72

metres long, the catamarans are known as the AC 72s. Foils lift them

out of the water, accelerating them to speeds of up to 50mph. It's

produced some of the most exciting racing ever seen. Two boats hurtling

towards each other with no brakes, scarily close racing on the very

edge. And sometimes over. New Zealand are what's known as the

challenger. In an early series of racing, they won the right to face

the Americans when they saw off competition from Sweden and Italy.

So, at the start of this regatta, they were match fit. The Americans

had no warm-up event so they made up their own, building two identical

boats, racing against each other. One skippered by James Spithill, the

other by Sir Ben Ainslie. More on One skippered by James Spithill, the

him later. After three years of development, both teams were very

evenly matched. It was too close to call. But days before the start,

Team USA found themselves two points behind. A jury decided the team had

broken the rules in an earlier competition. That put them at minus

two on the scoreboard. Nevertheless, the most eagerly-anticipated

America's Cup began. The first race went New Zealand's

way. In fact, they won three out of the first four. By the fifth,

America looked second best. This is really interesting tactics by

Oracle. I don't know what they are doing right now. The situation

looked critical. It had come to a head. With no points on board, they

took an unprecedented step and substituted their tactician for Ben

Ainslie. Could a British knight rescue an America's Cup campaign? It

is like taking over somebody's science project the day before the

exam so I had to do a lot of swatting to get up to speed with the

different software we have. With the most decorated Olympic sailor ever

on board, it was set up for a fairytale comeback. But no-one told

Dean Barker and his crew. You can be a rooster one day and a feather

duster the next! By race eight, the Kiwis were in for a massive shock.

New Zealand almost capsized. Oh my gosh! Oh my goodness! By race nine,

Team USA could now chase into New Zealand's lead. Impressive from

start to finish, with the fastest race time of the series. Race number

nine, day number six of the 34th America's Cup belongs to the

Americans. Too much wind and too much tide had caused chaos to the

race schedule. With a 7-1 lead, New Zealand seemed to sail through it.

In race 11, Dean Barker's crew passed the Americans upwind and

moved within one point of winning the regatta. The question is imagine

if these guys lost from here, what an upset that would be. Race 13

proved unlucky for New Zealand as they looked to wrap up the series.

No wind, no speed, it was like racing in slow motion! Agonisingly

in sight of the finish line, cup success was two minutes away. The

time has expired so this race has been abandoned. The rule is the race

must be completed in 40 minutes. The Kiwis haven't won a race since. Team

USA's fightback from 8-1 down has piled the pressure on New Zealand

who have to bear the weight of an expectant nation. Where I come from,

it is enormous. It is outrating the All Blacks. Yesterday, the cracks

were beginning to show. It's a foul! Come on! The Americans levelled the

series. Their seventh race win in a row is a new record and this 34th

edition of the cup is only the third time there's been a winner-takes-all

showdown. One of the mysteries of this America's Cup is how Team USA

have turned their boat from slug to slippery. Their comeback has ignited

a global television audience. That is what the billionaire owner

wanted. It is a huge race when it comes to the history of sailing, a

huge moment for both teams. So both teams must be hugely excited about

huge moment for both teams. So both what is ahead. We are not going to

leave anything in the tank. The boys find another level to go to every

single day. Today I will ask for everything. Of course, they will

deliver. Having never been behind, New Zealand have been stuck on match

point for seven days. It is not just the 8-1 lead they have lost, they

are Government-backed and there is no guarantee the taxpayer will fund

another campaign if they lose. We have complete belief in our team and

guys and we can win the race today. It's a big ask, the way the Oracle

guys have been sailing. It will be very difficult. They have improved a

huge amount. They are not unbeatable. We know that if we put

together a solid performance, we can win the race. Obviously, a lot has

been made about today. It is a monumental occasion for America's

Cup. It will be remembered for a long, long time. We have to go about

the business about we remembering it for the right reasons. To describe

this final showdown, let's go to Todd Harris, Ken Reid and Gary

Jobson. The current is flooding in so that makes the waves small. This

is the race of the century. No question about it. More from Gary

throughout the racing today. We have a flood tide, water coming into the

Bay. Ken, it is not as strong as we have seen in the past? It will

smooth the course out a bit. Emirates Team New Zealand think this

smooth water is to their benefit. They don't like the chop. What this

really makes a big difference with is in the start box. The weather

towards the Golden Gate Bridge becomes more favoured when there is

a big flood current like this. It is a subtle difference. You can make a

case that the leader at mark one goes on to win this race. The

obvious up-and-down one-and-a-half times up the San Francisco

obvious up-and-down one-and-a-half waterfront to huge crowds and then

to the - somebody will finally win the America's Cup here, Todd. So

there you see the current, what it is doing. Oracle Team USA are

already talking about what their tactics might be. I think it will be

like yesterday. OK. We are not going to go to the shoreline and let it go

like yesterday. OK. We are not going all the way. We don't want them to

get on this side of us, do we? No. If he's gone that way... We are not

rolling straightaway. There's the conversation, Ken. Care to decipher

what they are talking about? With all the prep, with all the coaching,

with all the work they do in the classroom looking at video, it is

just like any other sailboat race, folks. Every one of us have been in

that position before discussing if he does this, let's do that. They

that position before discussing if are reinforcing strategy at this

stage. We will bring you fantastic pictures, amazing audio throughout

stage. We will bring you fantastic this race. The final race of the

34th America's Cup as we take you on board both the defender, Oracle Team

USA, and the challenger, Emirates Team New Zealand. We will try to

identify the voices for you and let you know what key roles they play

and there is Dean Barker, upper left of your screen.

So the big thing today is Oracle Team USA have starboard entry and

Emirates Team New Zealand have port entry. Gary, is that port entry

going to be as big as it has been in the last few days? New Zealand's

very lucky to have the port entry today. With this flood tide, you

normally want to stay at the windward end in a line. Right now, I

look for the boats to fight. So, at 2.10pm, the Americans will

follow. This port attack entry has been favourable. Skippers on both

teams think that to be able to enter the box ten seconds early to avoid

these dangerous closing speeds is an advantage. Team New Zealand has

locked out at the very beginning part of today's race.

Here is where the tactician will start to feed information to the

helmsman. Don't be shocked to know that the helmsman is totally in

control here, using their instincts, setting up, not only to get to the

line on time, but to try to get themselves in between the other boat

and the first mark. One minute to go to the start. Team

New Zealand has set themselves up very far down low in the box. Oracle

is looking for a gap between the boats. It is called the gapping off.

They might try to use that gap if they can get to the line at the same

time to have a better angle to mark one and roll over the top. 35

seconds, James Spithill shows like he is going to go for the hook and

pulls it off! Trying to keep a bit of a gap at this stage. He has to

try to just get better time and distance and roll over the top. That

is their only chance at this stage. Team New Zealand is down low on this

line. This is a dangerous spot for Emirates Team New Zealand right now.

The wind is good, we are all-clear, race 19. One race for it all. Such a

critical moment in this race. Beautiful job by New Zealand. The

question is can they hold the overlap? Emirates Team New Zealand

gets the hold shot. Oracle takes a big dip. How much will that hurt

them? Both boats got really loose at that mark. This is incredible

already. Oracle up on their foils. You heard

Ben Ainslie say, "Nice recovery. " The Kiwis just off to the right.

Again, another crucial moment. Team New Zealand did not jibe right away

with Oracle, so therefore it is a Drag Race. Oracle is inching away at

that lead. Let's check in on the water with Gary. Oracle Team USA

really hit a bad wave and lost it. Boy, are they sailing fast. They

have just gone right by us. Oracle have a bit more speed. The big

question for James Spithill - can he block the wind of New Zealand? They

trail by 40 metres. This is a winner-takes-all at the 34th

America's Cup. Flat out Drag Race of two very even

boats right now, Todd. The boundary will be coming into play shortly. I

don't think Oracle will have the time to roll over the top. Almost a

simultaneous jibe as both boats decide to make the turn with the

boundary on their left. A boat length apart, 41 knots going into

that. Really, when you are behind, you put

a lot of pressure on and make the leading boat nervous. These are

sights and sounds that nobody in sailing ever dreamt we would see.

This is just a new sport that we are witnessing here in the 34th

America's Cup. They are travelling about 40 knots, which is 46mph

downwind here on leg two of five. Ken, this will be a very fast race

with the winds blowing around 18-19 knots.

Emirates on the left, Oracle Team USA on the right as they approach

mark two. What are the options for the Kiwis? You are trying to stay in

synch now. They were ahead at this stage yesterday and they allowed

Oracle to split and get to the other mark. Don't let the split happen, go

with them. Match them at this stage. Tom Slingsby calling out the times.

It remains about a 65 metre lead for the Kiwis on the left of your

screen. The Kiwis have done a great job in staying in sequence with

these guys all the way down. I think Oracle will go for a split

here. At gate two, the Americans will split the course yet again.

Man, is this setting up exactly like the second race yesterday. Team New

Zealand will come out of the right-hand side and they will start

using that cone to their advantage. Let's see what Oracle does at this

stage. At this point, the Americans have taken the lead by 20 metres.

They are down one tack. So still a lot to play for here. Watch him.

As the American lead reaches 69 metres, Gary, who has the right

spot? Where is the sweet spot on this course? Position-wise, Emirates

Team New Zealand have the advantage. But they are sailing so slow right

now, they have to kick it up a notch if they want to hold on. Here comes

the moment of truth. This is the moment of truth. Oracle will be

dipping at this stage, then they will have the starboard tack

advantage. This is the race that we dreamt of. On the cross, the Kiwis

take the lead back. The Kiwis are allowed to cross ahead of Oracle at

that stage. Oracle is heading for less current,

New Zealand is heading for more. As the Kiwis tack on the far left

side of the course, the Americans stay on course with good speed and

this will close the gap substantially. This is where Oracle

turned on the after-burners yesterday. It was speed that we have

never seen out of an AC72 upwind. Let's see if they have it in them

again today. Starboard tack advantage to Oracle as the cross

comes yet again. They are almost dead even on the water as we go on

board Oracle Team USA. A big cross, with the Americans

having the right of way. They will make the cross. I don't think Team

New Zealand had to duck at that stage. That means that is about a

three boat-length gain in the last minute-and-a-half. That is a big

jump for Oracle. We will learn a lot about boat speed here. If USA

continues to gain, they are a lot faster boat. Leg three of five,

approaching the halfway point of this race. This one is for all the

marbles, the 34th America's Cup will go to the winner of this race.

That is the voice of Tom Slingsby, the strategist on Oracle. He says

they are crossing if he tacks. This is another huge moment.

Wow! Not just a cross, another couple of boat lengths for Oracle.

This is looking familiar. What are the Americans doing right? What are

the Kiwis doing wrong? Boat speed. A tactician's best friend. Dig into

this one a little. Copy. Don't be afraid to be a little faster, guys.

As we take a look overhead at Emirates Team New Zealand, what is

As we take a look overhead at their strategy now with less than a

race to go? If they go any slower, you have to keep the other boat

tacking and try and have them make a mistake. If your speed is even, you

go straight. If you are slower, make a manoeuvre. Those arrows indicating

the flood tide, the current coming in from the Pacific. Emirates are

holding a 25 knot speed. This is it. As commentated by Mr Ben Ainslie.

Todd, these guys are smoking upwind. They are foiling almost all the

time. Something that we rarely saw at the beginning of this event.

Every single race, they have been out of the water. They are using it

to their advantage. The lead is now 162 metres. They get around the top

mark, there is no wind under there after that point. It peaked at 27.7

knots. Right now, that has to be advantage

to Oracle Team USA. These guys are down the road. Gary, it is windy out

there, isn't it? It is getting windier, particularly at the top end

of the course. It is hard to see that.

These guys have done everything right in this race.

Nice move by Oracle to cover and push them back. Well done there. Ben

Ainslie, the tactician on board Oracle Team USA, the man on the

far-right of your screen, he is a four-time Olympic gold medallist.

Folks, this is a role reversal what we saw a couple of days ago. Now,

the roles are reversed. Look at the boat speed - it was almost 30 knots

for Oracle and 25, 26 for Emirates Team New Zealand. I give the design

team a lot of credit, the shore team. They have stuck with these

guys and given them a faster boat at this stage.

Let's not forget, Emirates Team New Zealand, three or four times over

the last couple of days have been able to close the race down on leg

four to less than 100 metres. If the Americans think they have this

wrapped up, give them a pep talk. You know Dean Barker will throw it

at them? There is zero quit in these guys. Would you look at that? Talk

about demoralising. Just gone. Gary, this is - every time they leave the

dock, they seem faster? They made some improvements since we saw them

yesterday. It is an impressive sightseeing their foil upwind. Great

work, boys. Just get on the foil and then we'll

do it. A really big wind up at that windward gate. Oracle have to be

careful. They can't make a mistake. As we saw during the Louis Vuitton

Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand almost taking the whole thing over.

No harm, no foul, but to Gary's point, with a 13-storey wing, you

have to be pretty careful. Team New Zealand is going 27, 28 knots

upwind. That is almost 30% more faster than they went in the Louis

Vuitton Cup. Unbelievable speed gains. Makes me wonder, Ken, maybe

they were a bit conservative on the start knowing they were that fast.

Not James Spithill has ever been conservative at anything, Gary! --

not sure James Spithill has ever been conservative at anything, Gary!

It is miracle time for Emirates Team New Zealand. Like Gary said, they

have to flip this boat over at this stage. It is such a big lead. At

gate three, we will bring them home uninterrupted. It is Oracle Team USA

with a huge lead, two more legs and the Americans will retain the cup

and for Team New Zealand, they have to find some wind and some speed if

they want to take the cup to New Zealand. The boat just about takes

off at the top gate. They went for it there, Kenny! Oh, man. Gate

three, the Kiwis are looking for something, anything, to get them

back in touch with Oracle Team USA. They make the turn at gate three and

they are 26 seconds behind. The boundary and the wind direction is

working to their disadvantage. They will have to jive very quickly. The

lead is almost 500 metres. The Kiwis are way over on the boundary. At

this stage of the game, nothing to lose.

Really good pressure from here. Gary, all kinds of records will be

talked about when this one is done, which ever way it goes. This is one

for the books? Not only the longest cup, certainly the fastest cup. By

my clock, Oracle Team USA is ahead of the record by 30 seconds. Let's

not forget, it was four days ago, folks, that Emirates Team New

Zealand had the lead with eight wins in their pocket. They made the turn

Zealand had the lead with eight wins on the last leg four minutes away

from winning the America's Cup and the whistle was blown, the time

limit of 40 minutes had expired and the race was wiped clean. It is

getting lighter. The last successful defence of the

cup was in 1992. One thing in common with this cup, there was a Kirby on

board. You talk about the speed of the

Kiwis. They had it when they won the Louis Vuitton Cup three weeks' ago.

They had it at the start of the 34th America's Cup. Where has that speed

gone? I don't think it's gone anywhere. The other guys have put

the jets on. A lot of time and effort has gone into designing the

technology that creates these boats. Vertical learning curves have been

talked about all the time. They get better every day. Oracle have just

got better faster. Makes me wonder whether we will see these boats

again. They are the vision of Larry Ellison and Russell Cootes. A lot of

people said it would never work and it won't be exciting. Here we are,

breaking down barriers. Never have we seen anything like that, the epic

breaking down barriers. Never have comeback continues. Is that a smile?

James Spithill, the skipper and helmsman on board Oracle Team USA.

He's Australian by birth. He is bringing this thing home. We can see

gate four in the distance. Watch the pressure on the backside of

Alcatraz. It is not bad to have five Olympic gold medals standing behind

you and giving you information. Not bad at all(!)

We will get lighter from here. Keep working it. There is a smile. We

will get softer here, guys. Don't smile yet, Jimmy.

For more than ten days, James Spithill sat down at press

conference after press conference and he said, "We can still win this.

" At 8-1, he said, "We believe we can come back and win this. " We had

a conversation, "What was wrong with him?" They have both had incredible

streaks. They both handled their press conferences, the pressure,

with incredible poise. We have to take our hats off to both. If you

are going to go out here, New Zealand did a really good race. They

got the lead at the second gate. What else could they have done? They

are just a bit slower. At the end of the day, it is always the faster

boat that will win and tacticians aside, over the last eight races, it

has been Oracle Team USA. Just to continue on with what Ken was

talking about, if this stands the way it is, this will hurt for

Emirates Team New Zealand and the nation. I will say this: Dean Barker

and Ray Davies and the crew are some of the classiest men you will ever

come across. At mark four, Oracle Team USA make the turn for home. I

never thought I would say this. Oracle will win the America's Cup.

This is incredible. So what was done as a race for redemption, it looked

like it was on course as Emirates Team New Zealand led 8-1. One more

victory and the cup was being shipped off to Auckland, New

Zealand. Here we are, a week later, all even at 8 and it is Oracle Team

USA that are moment s away from keeping the cup. -- moments away

from keeping the cup. The Stars and Stripes say it all.

The comeback of 2014 is complete. America's Cup will stay in America!

As the celebration commences on the shores here in San Francisco for the

home team, Emirates Team New Zealand comes across the line with eight

wins, one short for more than a week, their final Delta in excess of

43 seconds. A fly-buy like no other. -- a fly-by

like no other. The America's Cup will stay with Oracle Team USA. Man,

what a race. This had everything. There are a few spectators out here.

We almost lost you there. I'm still here. James Spithill, two-time

America's Cup champion skipper. Pretty rarefied air. How does that

feel? Oh, mate. It is about the team. On your own, you are nothing.

When you have a team like this around you, they can make you look

great. They did all of that today in the whole series. I'm so proud of

the boys, man. A fantastic team effort. Heartbreak for Dean Barker

who couldn't compete with the blistering speeds and skill of the

USA. Very frustrating. When you think back two weeks, the opposite

was true. We had - the gains they have made have been phenomenal.

Great credit to those guys. They have done an amazing job to sort

their boat out and probably a good thing for us they didn't do it

earlier! I'm incredibly proud of our team and what they have achieved.

I'm gutted that we couldn't get the last win that we needed to take this

cup back to New Zealand. It's very hard to swallow. A triumphant win

for James Spithill, completing one of the most exhilarating comebacks

in the history of the sport. I can tell you one thing - it is an

incredible te standing behind me. We have faced a lot of challenges. We

came together as a team, but there is one key ingredient we couldn't

have done it without all of your support. Thank you very much. This

is a team that never ever gives up. We fight all the way to the end. I

tell you, every single day we were winning races, all you guys are

coming down to support us, all that good energy, it got through. It

really affected the guys. We are in debt to you guys. Thank you very

much. Still, the defender of the America's Cup, Oracle Team USA!

# The world's gonna know your name... .. # Seven days ago at 8-1

down, no-one could see this comeback. Full credit to James

Spithill and his crew. The team boss has transformed this event. There

was a revolutionary gain in boat speed, producing an on-water

spectacle that produced heart stopping excitement. A nosedive at

the start of the final race couldn't stop their record-breaking pursuit

the start of the final race couldn't of glory. They are expensive, a

winning campaign can cost at least $100 million. So will we see the

AC72s again? In the meantime, back-to-back wins for the Americans

and Spithill, but a first for Britain's Sir Ben Ainslie, who has

now added America's Cup glory to his five Olympic medals. Can he now

mount a British challenge for the 35th America's Cup?