We really didn't expect ourselves to be getting so excited about the sailing (and we were, seriously, rooting for NZ), but here we are, riveted. It was a windy day out there, and Oracle Team U.S.A. pulled off the "astounding" feat of winning two more races, and coming back from a 7-point deficit to tie the Kiwis at 8 to 8. This actually means that Oracle has won 10 races to New Zealand's 8, due to their penalty deficit of two points, and it means that the American boat has, against all odds, won the last seven consecutive races.
NBC commentators today were apoplectic over the Oracle boat's two wins, particularly in the second race, Race 18, about which they couldn't stop using the word "astounding." Basically the Kiwis took an early lead which they subsequently lost in the third leg of the race (something about tacking and being in an "awkward position" with regard to the Oracle boat), ultimately falling a full minute behind Team U.S.A., and losing their seventh straight shot at winning this thing. One of the commentators called the Cup, at this stage, "An international sporting event like we have maybe never seen."
So, Larry's getting what he wished for, even though the Yacht-enfreude was high and it felt like no one in San Francisco wanted him to.
And tomorrow, it's up to both teams to overcome the psychological pressure of all this and finally make it to 9 points. As the TV dude said, "After coming back from 8-1, how can the Americans NOT win this thing? And for the Kiwis, after being ahead 8-1, how can they NOT win it?"
Here's the official rundown of the day on the America's Cup site.
