The Louis Vuitton Cup and American Football, a link?
By Sean Downey, Associate Editor

Louis Vuitton Cup Finals, Race 5 saw another good day on the water. After a slow start, Oracle BMW Racing was able to capitalize on a right hand shift to break even with Alinghi. They eventually went on to round the 1st mark 28 seconds ahead.

Halfway into leg 4, Oracle was still leading by a small margin. As the boats approached the starboard layline, Alinghi was able to deal Oracle a dose of bad air and rolled over them to take the lead. Both boats gybed and Oracle seemed to pinch in hopes to get high enough to shadow Alinghi. The attempt failed and Alinghi stretched the lead.

Alinghi carried the lead up the next beat with the distance fluctuating. At the top of Leg 5 they tacked onto layline and on top of Oracle. Oracle was forced to sit in their dirty air to maintain minimal separation. Alinghi rounded mark 5 still 15 seconds ahead as they charged downwind to the finish where the boats both flew Asymetrical chutes.

Oracle tried everything possible to close the gap, but in the end Alinghi won by a margin of 13 seconds, and moved to 4-1 in the best of 9 series for the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Oracle is now in the hot seat with their backs to the wall. They must win the last 5 races straight if they have any hopes to advancing the the America's Cup. It looks grim and brings one to compare Oracle Racing to the San Francisco 49er's of American Football. They too had a wonderful season and a wild card by into the playoffs, but were embarrasingly defeated 31-6 and eliminated.

We will have to wait at least one more day to see who will go on to face Team New Zealand in the America's Cup as the teams have a day off tomorrow.