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The U.S. won the America’s Cup Wednesday as Oracle completed its rally from 8-1 down to Emirates Team New Zealand in the famed best-of-17 regatta.

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Within one defeat of losing the Cup, for the last eight races, Oracle continued to upgrade its boat and its confidence as it staged an all-time comeback.

Against overwhelming odds and a team of veteran sailors, the U.S. proceeded to win an unprecedented eight straight races to defend the trophy.

The final blow was delivered Wednesday in the first winner-take-all America’s Cup race since 1983., making for a grand spectacle in San Francisco, Calif.

 

With the biggest and loudest crowd of the regatta gathered onshore, the two massive catamarans crossed the start line in near unison at well over 30 knots.

Oracle was the first to crack, burying both bows in the water as it prepared to round Mark 1 and generating a huge splash and a collective gasp back on shore.

But there would be no breakdown or Kiwi revival. Though New Zealand led at Mark 1 and Mark 2, the third leg was again critical, and the U.S. cruised.

In the early stages of this best-of-17 regatta, Oracle was the slower boat upwind, but the team’s designers and shore crew used the off days to modify the boat.

Wednesday only underscored the obvious. Oracle was the significantly faster boat upwind, while Team New Zealand remained closer to the water.

Soon enough, the comeback was complete.