Last-chance showdown looms

By JULIE ASH

It will be hard today for Chris Dickson and his Oracle team to think of anything except that they are just one loss away from America's Cup elimination.

Dickson's American team were beaten by 13s yesterday and now trail Alinghi 4-1 in the best-of-nine series in the Louis Vuitton challenger final.

Today is a layday, giving both teams the day off before race six tomorrow.

"I think we can still win, but it is in our hands," said Oracle strategist Tommaso Chieffi.

After their win over the Swiss on Thursday, the Oracle side took to the water yesterday with renewed confidence.

Despite losing the start, the Larry Ellison-backed Oracle rounded the first three marks ahead.

But their lead was eroded on the second downwind leg as Alinghi blocked their air and moved into the lead, making good use of the wind shifts.

Little separated the pair on the last upwind leg, but the Swiss rounded the last mark 16s ahead and defended their lead furiously on the home run.

The Alinghi boat, SUI64, looked to have an edge in the mid to heavy conditions and seemed to out-muscle Oracle downwind.

"We are pleased we led around the first three marks,' said Chieffi.

"Certain conditions favour us and certain conditions favour them.

"It is always very close racing, and one little mistake on our side or one little mistake on their side can reverse the result.

"Unfortunately the scoreboard doesn't reflect the real value of the two teams. I think we are lot closer than that and better than that, and we haven't given up."

The Russell Coutts-skippered Alinghi are just one win away from challenging Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.

The cowbells seem to ring louder and louder each time the Swiss team succeed.

As the boat approaches the base, the cowbells clang and the entire Alinghi force emerges from the building to welcome their team back.

Yesterday, two people dressed up as a cow to greet the sailors as they came off the boat.

"Today was one of our better races," said Coutts.

"The grinders got going well and tactically we sailed pretty well apart from the first leg.

"Boat speed-wise, I don't think we were faster. I think we just sailed well."

Despite being ahead 4-1, Coutts sees it beating Oracle one more time as a big ask.

"We've got one more race in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

"Everyone can see now that Oracle is a damn good team and we're going to have to win another race."

Asked it he thought he had seen Oracle at their best, Coutts replied: "I hope so."

Syndicate head and navigator Ernesto Bertarelli said

the loss on Thursday - although hard to swallow - might have helped his team.

"It forced us to question ourselves, and as a result our performance was better today.

"You learn from a loss."

Oracle will need an almighty effort to beat Alinghi four more times and prevent an America's Cup showdown between Team New Zealand and Alinghi.

"We have no more lives," said Oracle skipper Chris Dickson.

"We will have tomorrow off, and then we must win every race - starting on Sunday," he said.

"We have been ahead at some stage in the last three races, so we have the ability to get more points."

Race six is scheduled to start tomorrow at 1.15pm. Organisers have predicted light sea breezes.

If Alinghi win the race - and the series - the Louis Vuitton Cup presentation will take place in the Viaduct, outside the Loaded Hog, about an hour after the race.

Mark by mark ...

START: After a 15-minute delay as the breeze settled, racing started at 1.15pm. In a reverse of the previous race, Alinghi was narrowly ahead at the start in breezes of nearly 12 knots, as Oracle tacked too early and lost momentum in crossing the line.

Margin: Alinghi by 2s.

MARK ONE: The boats quickly separated on the first beat, Alinghi going right and Oracle left. At one stage they were nearly a kilometre apart as Oracle, with Chris Dickson calling the shots, edged ahead in the 14-knot breeze and smooth water.

Margin: Oracle by 28s.

MARK TWO: Good spinnaker sets on both boats as they headed downwind for the first time. While Dickson looked ahead to the next mark, Murray Jones was up the mast on Alinghi searching for the wind. Oracle led by 150m halfway down the second leg and held that around the mark.

Margin: Oracle by 27s.

MARK THREE: Around the leeward mark, Alinghi quickly tacked. Oracle tacked in cover, which forced Alinghi to tack away. Oracle's big lead was down to just one boat length before the cross, at which point Oracle remained just ahead. Oracle, to the left, under pressure from the Swiss, held on to sneak around in front, but only after Alinghi had more than halved their advantage at the halfway point.

Margin: Oracle by 10s.

MARK FOUR: Under spinnaker on the downwind leg after rounding the top mark for the second time, Alinghi, to the right, were slightly quicker and soon spilling disturbed air on to Oracle. They eventually edged ahead, and Dickson and Peter Holmberg were briefly forced to follow before breaking away, as Alinghi sailed out from under Oracle on a long gybe and held on to be in front at the top mark.

Margin: Alinghi by 9s.

MARK FIVE: Around the mark, Oracle went into a fake tack to break away from Alinghi. Keen to protect the right side and with it the wind and starboard advantage, Alinghi allowed the separation to go beyond 500m as Oracle closed to within a length in a move reminiscent of the first upwind leg before Russell Coutts edged Alinghi away.

Margin: Alinghi by 16s.

MARK SIX: Oracle, just over two boat lengths back after rounding the top mark, quickly gybed, but there was no response from Coutts as he continued to protect the right and eventually sail away, while Dickson called for a couple of gybes in an effort to close the gap, which stretched to over 100m or about four boat lengths.

Margin: Alinghi by 13s.

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