America’s Cup: The irresistible chemistry of a comeback

The victorious South African team after defeating New Zealand All Blacks at the 1995 Rugby World Cup

Another example of a defiant performance in sport serving to emancipate a troubled nation was the inspiring effort of the Springboks in the 1995 Rugby world cup. The event was hosted in South Africa and the team of Francois Pienaar carried the weight of apartheid on their shoulders, as Rugby was long considered the exclusive bastion of the oppressive European whites and the Dutch Afrikaners. In the context of the event, the Proteas’ 15-12 victory over the former champions was a remarkable accomplishment.

The Bokke raised their game in a collective thrust to lift a nation with what many consider as one of the most socially significant sporting performances of the modern era. The effort of Joel Stransky, who scored all the points including the extra time drop goal to clinch the ameliorating victory over the favoured All Blacks from New Zealand, left a lasting imprint on the collective conscience of a tormented republic.

While the America’s Cup does not compare with those performances in cultural significance, it made up for it by virtue of its theatrical intensity and human drama. It is an event that could probably be best compared with the efforts of the European team at Medinah last year. The Americans were playing host to the 39^th Ryder Cup against the defending champions from Europe. What followed was an emotional roller coaster victory for the Europeans, called the ‘miracle at Medinah.’

The hosts had a commanding 10-4 lead midway through the second afternoon and it appeared that Europe was not too far away from surrendering the trophy. Luke Donald and Ian Poulter lifted the visitors by narrowing the deficit to four ahead of the pulsating final day. Invoking the spirit of Seve Ballesteros, the team from Europe completed a miraculous escape when they took ten of the next thirteen points to retain the trophy.

Back to the regatta; as Team USA inched closer and closer to the challengers, roles reversed and nerves tightened for the concerned members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The elements too threw their weight behind the pulsating contest – a couple of races were abandoned whilst the New Zealanders enjoyed a handy lead due to weather conditions that were deemed unfit for regatta.

Driven by the tactical nous and commanding presence of Olympian Ben Ainslie, the Oracle team pushed the America’s Cup into an all-or-nothing race on Wednesday. On the day before that epochal finale, the Emirates team gave away their growing uneasiness tacking a tad too early to lose pace and allow their opponents to steal a march. Oracle used the slip to gain a 1000-yard advantage between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay to tie the score at 8-8.

Eventually, Oracle Team USA clinched the America’s Cup with a stunning 45 second victory in the 19^th race, winning eight in a row to score an epic victory holding their opponents off on match point. It was a remarkable redemption for a team that was docked two races for cheating in the early stages of the event. With a narrative that is so compelling, it is only natural that the team of men is destined to sail into sporting folklore.

Here’s the final race of the grand epic between Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand:

For a sport damaged in recent times by the accidental drowning of Andrew Simpson and allegations of rampant favouritism, the epic victory of the Oracle team shall serve as a lasting balm of deserving glory.