By HELEN TUNNAH
Oracle's sailors put a smile back on the boss' face yesterday.
Billionaire Larry Ellison watched his America's Cup team breathe life back into the challenger finals in a thrilling tussle with Alinghi two days ago, and yesterday they bagged their first point with a two-minute "thumping" of the favourites.
The light airs on the Hauraki Gulf in the past two days have left Ellison sidelined, unable to ride as a guest on his yacht as skipper Chris Dickson elects to limit weight.
But the winds that have cost him his back-seat berth have helped to push Oracle.
Alinghi lead the series 3-1 and need just two more wins to secure the Louis Vuitton Cup and race Team NZ for the America's Cup.
Skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth must have fancied their chances of a fourth win yesterday, after sweet sailing on the first leg delivered them a handy advantage.
But they may have been just a little too far in front. When the winds died, and with the two boats more than a kilometre apart across the course, Alinghi could not cover Oracle and it was the Americans who bagged the freshening breeze first and sailed away.
Oracle never relinquished their lead, and it was a grim Alinghi crew who trailed across the finish line by 2m 13s. The margin of around 600m was almost the length of two Sky Towers.
For Coutts, it was his biggest loss in the America's Cup since 1992.
While a joyous Ellison, who has spent almost $200 million on his campaign, and supporters cheered USA76 across the line, the onboard celebrations were muted.
"Don't get too excited, we've got four more to go," helmsman Peter Holmberg said.
Oracle had been disappointed not to pick up their first win a day earlier, after a dramatic duel with Alinghi in which they could have reasonably been miffed that Alinghi did not cop a penalty.
Instead it was Ellison's crew who were flagged by the umpires, and despite getting clear of the Swiss the penalty cost them the race.
Dickson, who was Oracle's tactician for yesterday's race, described the win as a "thumping" and said later that he was really pleased the team finally had something to show for their hard work.
"We've been disappointed not to get more points so far. Now we've got one we'll be trying really hard to make it two."
Yachting commentator Peter Lester said the win would have been a major psychological boost for Oracle.
"The morale must be high and in the team talk you'd say, 'Just keep it going'.
"They got a bit of luck, they had some self-belief and the sailors used their intuition."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Larry's as happy as ... and it's Coutts' worst loss in a decade
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