Episode 7 Sailing: America's Cup

what started as a race around the Isle of Wight has become the most

prestigious trophy in the world of sailing. Ultimately, it is about

tactical genius and developing the best Crewe. For billionaire Larry

Ellison, time is running out. For the Defender, there has been no

escaping the relentless pursuit of the Kiwis, who are two wins away

from taking the cup and the event back to New Zealand. Dean Barker

knows the cup is his for the taking, but he also knows one mistake could

be costly. The resurgent Oracle team USA, with the help Britain's Sir

Ben, are ready to jump on any tactical mishaps. -- Ben Ainslie.

They are in good shape, they have done a really nice job. The USA have

won two out of the three races. Day 69 belongs to the Americans. This is

all about pace, phenomenal job by Team New Zealand, keeping the

overlap. Emirates team New Zealand are now just two wins away from

reclaiming the trophy they lost in 2003.

, conditions, but trickier tides are forecast once again in some -- San

Francisco Bay Dean Barker and his Crewe to negotiate. Yet neither the

weather nor the operation run the Kiwi control. We cannot control what

they are doing, we can only control what we are doing and we need to

keep the game plan the same, take things aggressively and let's hope

the conditions are good. We will have two different races in a way,

the first one is more medium conditions and then the second one

can be quite lumpy with a strong inside, so quite a variety of

conditions and I think it will be how well the teams can adapt to the

change. Now with a monumental task on their hands, the USA are

beginning to sound desperate. It is one race at a time, you know? That

has always been our motto and our game plan, really. Today is no

different. It will be interesting to see the birds in the first race. --

boats. It doesn't change our strategy, it is one race at the

time. With the Babos my forecast, it was touch and go whether racing

would get the nod -- with today's forecast. What would be As the

series has shown, getting to the first market is crucial. It has

often seen some of the highest speeds on the course, but strict

rules decide who can do what. The imaginary circle represents three

boat lengths from the mark, so if the boats are level going into it,

the inside boat has right of way, indicated to the Crewe by a green

flashing light on the yacht. Turning first is a huge advantage, and

knowing that boat the best line towards the next mark. But the rules

are slightly different if one boathouse and advantage entering the

zone. In this case, the leading boat goes around first and the trailing

yacht cannot cut inside, leaving the boat in front with all of the

advantages of rending the mark first. The man who has had to make

some tough decisions this series is race Officer Harold Bennett. Tuesday

was a blow out, and today looked like being another nervous few hours

for. -- for him. So with USA against the ropes, let's see if they can get

out of jail with our commentary team.

The current is going to be sweeping out of San Francisco Bay. It going

to get stronger. With that, the waves are going to get bigger, so

these sailors are going to have to be able to shift gears with the

changing conditions. Like Dean Barker said, I want to watch the

sport. It is going to be good today. More from Gary Johnson throughout

the day, and there is some animation showing you just how strong the ebb

tidies, flowing out of the San Francisco Bay. The ebb current

flowing at two knots. What will affect this the most is the start.

The boat entering the port entry first is New Zealand in this race.

They have had a big advantage because of this ebb current in the

They have had a big advantage last three startss, so look for that

to happen right out of the gates for the Kiwis. Then we get into

to happen right out of the gates for racecourse, it is the same one, this

quick blast reach towards the shoreline. We go one and a half laps

up and down the waterfront. Again, this is a great new feature to this

America's Cup. And then the quick reach back into the finish right of

America's Cup. And then the quick America's Cup Park.

So there you see the current, as the countdown continues. The flags are

up and we are now under three minutes to go. At 2:10pm, the

Emirates team New Zealand will enter at the left side of your screen.

They have an advantage to get in there, some may argue whether it is

an advantage or not, but it is for safety purposes. It is and this ebb

current has affected the prerace strategy that these guys. Being able

to enter the box early has allowed these guys to set up what is called

lowering the box, away from the wind as we see it pan out on the left

lowering the box, away from the wind side of the screen. The other boat

has had a hard time matching that. But pushing and blocking, the

blogger seems to have an advantage. So the Emirates team New Zealand

gets to put Bears then first, and the Americans have to respond, and

the strategy is on. Dean Barker coming close to the line, they are

now in the start box, and we are set to go racing. They number eight,

race 11. I think the pressure is squarely on Oracle. It is probably

an understatement. Team New Zealand, if they think about this, they can

sail pretty loose, really the aggressive at the start. If I was

them, I would be super aggressive, because if you win the start, there

is a reasonable chance you can go on to win the race.

One quid difference between the two boats, I noticed that the New

Zealand forward sale is larger in area than the American boat. You

think that is an advantage for the Kiwis or the Americans got it wrong?

I think both of them know what it means, both of the boats are

different in the way they are balanced and I think we cannot doubt

that these guys have the correct jib balanced and I think we cannot doubt

up for the conditions. Team New Zealand are actually

heading back to the start line earlier than I thought they would in

this particular situation. Look for them to really protect down to the

this particular situation. Look for left, down to the left side of their

boat, as Oracle approaches from behind.

You could hear Ray Davies saying, " same as the other day". They are

going to protect that bottom left side.

A big advantage to the Kiwis right now, the boat is very firm on the

wind, Gary. New Zealand are looking very strong, Ken.

The all clear has sounded and the Kiwis will have the advantage at the

line, better positioning, and they are closer to Mark no-one. And they

are going to get them slow. Even though the starting gun has already

gone, they are going to try and get them slow and make a big gain once

the speed really comes. Great job by Dean Barker, really

well thought out. Again, that port entry was the difference. They have

never relinquished being the blocker in that starting sequence. I think

they are doing a good job to hang in there, only being a length behind

after a poor start. Now it is the drag race to

no-one. Emirates team New Zealand first to the circle, they will make

the left-hand turn, with the Americans close behind. This is race

number 11 on day number eight and it Americans close behind. This is race

is a three second advantage to the Kiwis. And the Americans are the

first to peel off. You have heard the tactician Ray Davies on-board

Emirates team New Zealand, saying they will drag it out a little

longer, they are not worried about the air, dirty air, disturbed air

coming from Oracle, they are just looking to spread it out and start

planning later in the leg. Find the right time and the breeze pressure.

As New Zealand executes their first job, we go back and look at Mark

no-one and we go back to the start, this is where it all happened. --

Mark no-one. Basically shutting it down. They had to pull away, it

couldn't wait any longer, they had just snuck forward enough to break

the overlap, so Oracle got out of jail by the overlap being broken.

Still, great job by Dean Barker. And the call for the Garraway as the

Americans try to get up to speed. The hull is really down deep in the

water. The Americans are really narrow, the bow section of their

boat tends to dig in when they accelerate but it didn't make much

of a difference, they were upon the foils quick. The lead is over 115

metres, it is the Kiwis out in front, the Americans are trying to

close the gap. This is a five legged race, this is the first scheduled

for today and a five legged race, this is the first scheduled for

today and mother nature cooperates, we will have a second race in which

the Kiwis, if they win, can wrap it up and take home the America's Cup.

Dean Barker very happy with that jibe. I noticed the American boat is

sailing a much lower scores than the American boat and they are able to

gain by doing that -- a much lower course.

There's not much in this now. It is amazing, two boats going at 38 knots

and there will only be a meter here or there being gained or lost

between the two boats. It shows you have far this sport has come, how

far the America's Cup has come. And as they approach gate number

two, Gary Jobson, what you see as far as tactics, which way will the

Kiwis go, well they look for a split? I think the Kiwis have got to

use the ebb current, it will be stronger out in the middle of the

bay. They will look for the New Zealand team to take the right gate

and the USA to take the left. I think the Kiwis have done a nice

job, sending Oracle off to one side of the racecourse. This will

potentially increase the possibility is not having a split, and when you

are the boat at head, you don't want a split at this bottom gate, you

want both of the boats going around the same side. Just as I said that,

I think we heard speak ill the same side. Just as I said that,

Right turn" -- speed Hill. This is a really tough manoeuvre if you are

Oracle USA. And that mark number two, the

Americans do indeed split the course. So what was a three second

lead at mark number one, the Americans now trailed by six

seconds. That is an incredibly hard manoeuvre on these boats, grinding

hydraulics, grinding sales, grinding dagger boards up and down and they

made it look very easy. Keep going. Nice and smooth.

And we have a lead change as the Americans have overtaken New Zealand

here on Lake number three. The big question now is, can they make it

stick? They are one tack behind. Now it will be this incredible contest

up you get the right hand side again. It could be that this tipping

contest of who keeps trying to get starboard tack advantage. As I look

up the racecourse, I think the right side, where the wind is shifting in

that direction, is better for New Zealand.

This is about whether team New Zealand will have a lead. If not

they will have to start this tipping contest again. This is a great move

by Emirates Team New Zealand. Here they go, they will go right

back at them. A simultaneous attack from the Americans and New Zealand.

This is lead 35, race number 11. The Kiwis need two more wins and the

race is theirs. This graphic shows that the current

is negligible at this stage. There is no favourite side. Let's see if

the Kiwis bounce these guys the other way. I am surprised they

don't. The bigger jib that New Zealand has

is helping them go with these manoeuvres. I am surprised they did

not continue that bouncing contest, and by bouncing Amin tacking on top

of the other boat and pushing them to the short side of the racetrack.

Still a good move by Oracle to keep the tacks going.

And the Kiwis decided now is the time to attack with a lead of more

than 100 metres but it will shrink here on this manoeuvre. The Kiwis

have the lead on Lake number three. Question is, can they hold onto it.

Emirates Team New Zealand with the lead on both the course and the

scoreboard. Looking to wrap up the America's Cup today on day number

eight. Two more wins and Dean Barker and company are taking the cup back

to Auckland. Halfway through leg three, the

Emirates Team New Zealand boat has a lead by about 18 metres. The

Americans trying to find a sweet spot on this course, but right now

the Kiwis are firmly in control of this race, and dictating pretty much

where the Americans are going. Both boats are working on the left-hand

side of the racecourse, so hard, you have to believe they can see

something out there they believe to be favoured on this left-hand side.

They are working on the left side, it is stronger and longer the

shoreline. -- along the shoreline. Ben Ainslie saying, we have got to

go straight here for a little while. The current does look better on the

left side of the course. Left-hander, the winds coming from

the side. That will help New Zealand. We are not singing either

boat with any sort of speed advantage right now. This is a

tactician's race as much as any other race we have seen in this

event. Ben Ainslie acting as tactician for Oracle team USA, and

Ray Davies, the 41-year-old from New Zealand, is Dean Barker's tactician

for Emirates. And the Americans going to the right side of the

course are starting to close the gap, now within 60 metres.

And today you see just how close it is, with the Americans just sailing

a little bit faster. It is just incredible speeds, these boats

started this at the beginning of the week going 22, 23 knots, here they

are going 28 or 29. These guys are out in the middle of the racecourse,

they were. To stir it up again. -- they will start to stir it up again.

New Zealand will keep the starboard advantage by keeping going here. And

the Kiwis decided now is the time to attack. As the Americans tack back

and look for the cross, how much could you still from their boat? I

don't think we have ever seen such a tight tacking contest ever in

catamarans. It shows how equalled these boats actually are. The wind

is increasing appear, which will favour the boat ahead. -- increasing

up here. They will start looking to minimise manoeuvres here. If team

New Zealand can do one more attack, they will probably do that and take

the right-hand gate as we look out towards the Golden Gate Bridge.

Looking to lead number four, which side of the course would you want to

Looking to lead number four, which be on? You get starboard tack

advantage, you round the right-hand gate. If the boats came together on

that first crossing on the run, New Zealand would have the advantage.

You want to stay away from the land gumming downwind unlike four. --

O-rings downwind on leg four. The Kiwis take it all the way to delay

line on the left side of the course. We will see if they can take it in

all the way. Jimmy Spithill and company looked like they are set up,

as well. That was not Oracle's test tack there. They got down to ten

knots. New Zealand did a really nice job at the top of this leg. Very

close cross here. But New Zealand are looking good.

The Kiwis who had the six second lead at Mach number two will

continue to pound that lead, this time it will be into the double

digits as the Americans come through at gate number three and make the

turn for home, they are now trailing Emirates Team New Zealand by 17

seconds. Oracle team USA got into an

attacking jewel on leg number three. Unfortunately for the Americans it

did not go their way. Emirates, who had been closed down by 25 metres to

the Americans, now have a sizeable lead of almost 200 metres.

In a perfect example of how one mistake can cost you a race, Oracle

team USA had one bad tacks on the upward leg and now they find

themselves, moments ago they were 25 metres behind the Kiwis, now almost

300 metres. They had to do one extra tacks, I think that was even more

important. Team New Zealand did a really nice job of bouncing them

want additional time, setting up, they only had to do one tap into

that gate compare to Oracle's to tacks. That is the advantage of the

boat ahead. Got a quick shot that of Ray Davies

comedy tactician for Emirates Team New Zealand, calling the race for

comedy tactician for Emirates Team Dean, the skipper. -- from Dean

Barker, the skipper. As we said on leg number one, the

smallest differences in boat speed means it turned into a tactician's

race. Ray Davies, he nailed it, making record do to gybes. We will

know how nervous team New Zealand is in the second if they do to gybes to

get over Oracle. They seem pretty comfortable right now. Let's go to

Gary Jobson for more on the measurement configurations. It seems

to me that Oracle might have changed their boat to make it a little bit

better for my two wins, which weren't forecasted. Now the wind is

up, they might have slowed themselves down. They have closed

the gap which was over 300 metres, it is now just over 200 metres, so

the Americans are gaining. But will they run out of real estate on the

San Francisco Bay? They are on a lower angle out here, it looks to be

a fairly dramatic wind shift. They are staying parallel to the

boundary. It is a very different cause right now that the two of them

are failing. If I was on Emirates Team New Zealand I would be getting

nervous. It is a classic case where you want to cover, you have a 300

metre lead, New Zealand should have dived over and stayed in front. Now,

the race is almost over. What was a 300 metre lead is now down to 153

metres. Right now Oracle is laying this game and team New Zealand has

to do to gybes. This is going to be pretty close. To translate that, are

the Americans looking straight into Mach number four without any more

gybes? In a perfect world, they are, but the -- this is the defining

moment in the race. They need to block the wind of Oracle team USA,

so team USA is in the driving seat. It lifted a little bit as the two

boats have come together. it is now under 100 metres, the lead for the

Kiwis. A little pressure showing New Zealand, that wasn't their best

gybe. Still a little loose after the gybe.

Both boats are going to have soak to get around this Mark

. At mark number four, the races on. The Kiwis have a link wished a

huge lead that was over 300 metres, now it down to about 85 -- the Kiwis

have relinquished a huge lead. Both boats got really slow, though both

overstepped the mark, both being upwind, but it doesn't seem to

matter, New Zealanders in a dominant position again. On-board Oracle team

USA as they make the mark, 18 position again. On-board Oracle team

seconds behind. I think the look on Jimmy

Spithill's face told the entire story. The body language, it looked

as though Emirates team New Zealand had given them the opening but as

you pointed out, not their best gybe in this regatta. Talk about being

under pressure, they have got the America's Cup peeking around the

corner, it's just wasn't their best gybe. They just need to be smoother

in those tight spots, it was just enough to stay ahead. If that wind

had stayed the same direction for Oracle team USA for about 30 more

seconds, they would have been exactly even. The wind did them in.

A day number eight, race number 11 belongs to Emirates team New

Zealand. The Kiwis are now just one win away from the America's Cup.

And the Americans, with a fantastic third and fourth leg, it just wasn't

to be. As Gary pointed out, the wind did them in and they didn't have

enough pressure to catch up. So the Kiwis are now on the

precipice of taking away the America's Cup from Oracle team USA.

Race number 11 goes to Emirates team New Zealand. Dean Barker and his

tactician Ray Davies, a fantastic job, and they now will begin the

set-up for what could be the defining moment for Emirates team

New Zealand. It is so hard. Monumental battles. You are just

thankful for every win you get and if we can get one more, that would

be very cool but we are not even contemplating what would happen.

Yes, obviously we messed up the timings from the start, straight out

of the jar we were late, so a big mistake, but the boys put in a great

effort and I really started to grind them down, it was on until

effort and I really started to grind finish. We just have to get on with

the next one. It is not over. It is a long way from over.

As the series has gone on, the races have got progressively tighter, but

New Zealand still have the edge and are now just one elusive win away.

Glory won't just be for the team, it is also for the New Zealand

taxpayer, who have backed this Kiwi campaign. So we are all poised for a

dramatic decider on the choppy waters. Here is race 12.

COMMENTATOR: I wonder what is going through Jimmy Spithill's mine. They

have worked so hard to get to this place, literally the years. It is

like a young basketball player, a young kid who has practised his

whole life for that three second shot. That is him right now. They

can win this race, the windows up, they have the port entry and a good

attitude, go and win the race -- the wind is up. Larry Ellison, Russell

Coutts, they have held onto the cup wind is up. Larry Ellison, Russell

and here they are on home waters and Team New Zealand are making very few

mistakes. Ray Davies may be the best tactician in the world and Dean

Barker is certainly one of the best skippers in the world. Ray Davies

had made a name for himself prior to this event but he exits with a win,

he exits this event as a star for Team New Zealand in the series.

Is of the Americans have entered and now the race is on for the America's

Cup. Can Oracle team USA hold onto it will this be the knockout punch

from the Kiwis? I look at the Kiwis to try a different strategy here,

maybe to try and cut in front of Oracle and the really early back to

the start. No matter what, Oracle and the really early back to

method of the pushing and blocking has not worked but the boat coming

from the right-hand side. Let's see if try something new. -- if they

tried. We check in with Gary Johnson. The starting line is

slanted, that could help the winning boat, even though the current is up.

We are talking about killing time here, both boats are fairly far away

We are talking about killing time from the starting line. Looks like

the Kiwis are nearly up to speed, are they going to try and hit the

single time in distance? Knights move by New Zealand. -- nice

move. The Kiwis are trying to create a gap so they can accelerate but I

think they are going to get blocked out again. Here they come, looking

for that weather and start, gaining acceleration early. Too much wind.

And just before they hit the line, the race has been postponed. So the

wind limit was reached. Who does this hurt more? Oh, no. That is

remarkable. What a shame. All of the Kiwi fans will be saying right now

that the Kiwis had their start won, but Oracle would maintain that they

fouled them by trying to blast by them. New Zealand is taken that wind

would position with the slanted line work that well. Oracle definitely

drew a flag and protest against the Kiwis in that situation. I'm not

sure they didn't foul them, they tried to rip it right by them,

Oracle has the right of way. They never got close to within a length,

New Zealand would have been fine, but it is a moot point. The big

question is, do they know the race has been called off? Emirates team

New Zealand look like they are in full race mode. They will certainly

come alongside quickly, the Coast Guard, and tell them.

We still have 22 minutes, so they could still get a race in here

today. By the way, we missed by two tenths of

of knot. How close was it? 15 seconds. Had they started, it would

have been a five-minute average, it probably would have been okayed. We

keep hitting the wind limit every minute, it is taking us over, so we

have only got three more minutes to get it in before the latest possible

race start and we will keep going up to that, but it is not looking

promising all of a sudden. Safety has been paramount for everyone

involved in this America's's Cup. Iain Murray had delayed the race

until he was left with no option. So too much wind, too much tied, but

New Zealand are a step closer to too much wind, too much tied, but

taking the America's Cup home. They lead the series eight -1. We wanted

to race. You know, we enjoy getting out there on the boat and it was a

beautiful breeze, it is unfortunate not to be able to do the afternoon

race, but Iain Murray has the limits that he is stuck with and he can

only do what he can do. Both teams probably would liked to have raced,

but he has got to stick by those limits that are set and we have got

to obey them, so that is just the limits that are set and we have got

way it is. We're happy to be in a good position. It was all was going

to be a tough ask for the second race with the way the breeze built,

probably more quickly than we expected and we had just over three

knots of calmer, so it drags you down at the start. We have had one

hell of a battle on our hands here. But we have witnessed some

incredible comebacks in sport and it is never over until it is over. I

have said it all along, this team will fight all the way till the end,

we will not give up and like I said, stranger things have happened and

there is a lot of history in sport teams coming back huge deficits. San

Francisco Bay has been an incredible place to sale, reliable and its

conditions and I think that has made this event pretty spectacular. San

Francisco Bay and the sure, it is something that has got to go forward

with this event. I think all of the guys here would agree that we have

enjoyed this racing immensely. It has been a huge challenge to learn

to sail these boats in the finals and it has been unbelievable, so

moving forward, it really comes down to if you want to carry on with the

development of this type of class or to if you want to carry on with the

do we want to go back to monohulls, and what we want to do to have to

keep costs down for more teams to compete? It doesn't mean a smaller

boat has to be more cost-effective, it comes down to the people, that is

one of the issues with the budgets of these teams. All of these things

have to come into consideration when you are deciding on the type of boat

have to come into consideration when for the future of the America's Cup.

This has ticked all of the boxes, grateful competitors and spectators

and we have introduced it to a bigger audience. Certainly in the

USA, people had a preconceived idea of what the America's Cup was and

what the sailors are, but it has totally re-educated people and

re-engage people back into the sport. Thoughts are beginning to

turn to the future, but there is still a cup to be one. The Kiwis are

on match point. The Americans must win to keep the series alive.

Weather permitting, we are back together at 1:30pm on BBC Two to see

if New Zealand can re-establish themselves as the world's greatest

sailors.