The final showdown

The Bermuda Gold Cup could feature the victorious hero of what many are now calling the greatest ever America’s Cup.

Sir Ben Ainslie, who will compete on these waters next month, has overseen a remarkable turnaround in San Francisco since being drafted in as Oracle Team USA tactician.

At one stage 8-1 down — having been docked two points for illegally modifying the boat — Ainslie has helped dragged Team USA back to level terms with an unprecedented seven straight wins to level at 8-8.

It means there will be a winner-takes-all final race today.

In another chapter of a drama-filled regatta,  the Americans went from trailing across the start to hitting the finish 54 seconds ahead of the Kiwis in the second race after earlier winning by 27 seconds yesterday.

Team USA owner Larry Ellison was certainly caught up in the tension of yesterday’s racing, skipping a planned keynote speech at Oracle OpenWorld.

No guessing what he’ll be watching today as the sport’s most prestigious race is decided.

“It’s the most exciting day of all of our lives and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Oracle’s Australian skipper, Jimmy Spithill, said in a televised interview. “We’re up for anything.

‘Heck of a fight’

“Any conditions are good for us. We’re just looking forward to getting onto the race track and having one heck of a fight.

“The boys just out-ground the other team,”  Spithill added. 

“Very, very impressive and it gives us a lot of confidence heading into tomorrow. We’ve really improved the boat. The boat is going fantastic.”