US team makes huge comeback in America's Cup racing

San Jose Mercury-News:
The greatest America's Cup in 162 years could only end one way.

With one final race.

Oracle Team USA, which at one time trailed 8-1, continued perhaps the greatest comeback in sports. The American team won its sixth and seventh consecutive races Tuesday, beating Emirates Team New Zealand in Races 16 and 17 to even the 34th America's Cup at 8-8 and set up the ultimate showdown for the oldest trophy in international sports.

As stunning as this development has been, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill knows the job isn't done.

"It's not over -- that's the key point here," Spithill said. "We've got to finish it off."

That opportunity comes Wednesday in a winner-take-all Race 19. Oracle's streak has allowed it to wipe out the two-point penalty it was issued before this regatta for cheating in last year's America's Cup World Series warmup event. Because of that penalty, Oracle needs to win 11 races to defend the Cup.

Even though the scoreboard says 8-8, Oracle actually has a 10-8 advantage over New Zealand on the water. If it hadn't been for the penalty, the Americans would have successfully defended the Cup with Tuesday's first victory in what would have been a conventional best-of-17 event.

As is stands, if New Zealand wins Wednesday, the Kiwis could hoist the Cup after winning a series in which it lost more races than it won.
...
There is much more.

This is a big deal that you may not be hearing about.  It involves boats that are unique and very fast.  They cost millions and they are very fast sailing in one of the windiest bays in the US.  The sails on the boats are 13 stories tall and they uses foils to lift the boats above the water to gain more speed.  Here is some video.

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