SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Spithill and defending champion Oracle Team USA sped around San Francisco Bay to win Race 12 Thursday and prevent Emirates Team New Zealand from sailing off with the America’s Cup.
With the Kiwis at match point, Oracle Team USA responded with a dominating race to pull to 8-2. Owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, Oracle Team USA was penalized two points in the biggest cheating scandal in the 162-year history of the America’s Cup.
The Kiwis could still win the Auld Mug on Thursday, with Race 13 scheduled later in the day.
Oracle was sailing so well that its 72-foot catamaran foiled upwind at 31 knots, riding only on hydrofoils with both hulls out of the water.
Oracle Team USA won the start after Team New Zealand got too close to the line too early. Spithill hooked behind and into controlling position.
