Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill celebrates onstage after defending the Cup as they beat Emirates Team New Zealand to defend the America's Cup during the final race on September 25 in San Francisco, California.
(CNN) -- There are comebacks -- and then there are comebacks.
As the stars and stripes billowed in the San Francisco wind, Oracle Team USA produced one of the most monumental triumphs in sporting history.
For a team which had stared into the abyss, trailing 8-1 at one stage, Oracle did what nobody outside of its catamaran believed it could do.
Oracle, which defeated the Swiss team Alinghi three years ago, held onto its title when it seemed certain to suffer one of the most humiliating defeats the America's Cup had ever seen.
"It had everything," said Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill told Sky Sports.
"It was fantastic. We wouldn't have had it any other way. The guys showed so much heart."
Backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, who owns a 25% in Oracle, the team pulled off a fairytale ending which money just cannot buy.
The 69-year-old, whose personal fortune is estimated at $41 billion by Forbes Magazine, boarded the boat to take part in the celebrations following a titanic tussle.
The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport -- but rarely has sailing's pinnacle event ever been so dramatic.
It speaks volumes that even those who had barely heard of the event last week suddenly became hooked on a race which has been going since 1851.
And yet this contest should have been all over before Wednesday's fantastic finale with Emirates Team New Zealand having stormed into an 8-1 lead.
In fact, the challenger should have wrapped up the title with victory in race 13 only for it to be abandoned with its yacht just two minutes from the finish line because of a time limit rule.
When the race was rescheduled, Oracle Team USA picked up the win which kept its hopes of a historic comeback alive.
Only on two occasions has the destination of the trophy been unknown going into the final race of the competition.
Seeing San Francisco by sailboat
Meet America's Cup flying hi-tech boats
Olympic champion: Sailing is not elitist
Oracle has appeared determined to make life difficult for itself since the start of its defense.
The team was given a two point penalty and fined $250,000 after illegally placing lead pellets in their catamarans to gain extra weight.
The incident also cost three crew members their place on the team.
Read: America's Cup flying machines
Racing in AC-72 catamarans, the first time these boats have been used in the competition, the crews expect to sail at around 40 knots or 74 kilometers an hour.
Excitement is never far away -- but then again, never is danger.
Only last March, British sailor Andrew Simpson died after being trapped under a catamaran in an America's Cup training session with Swedish team Artemis.
Last October, the Oracle team came perilously close to an accident of their own, while the Emirates boat has also had its own share of scary moments.
But this past fortnight has brought sailing to the forefront of world sport with Oracle's miraculous fightback set to go down as one of the greatest of all time.
With both teams needing to win the race to get its hands on the trophy, a tight fought affair was expected.
But despite a good start from Team New Zealand, it was the reigning champion which dominated.
Led by Britain's four time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie, who replaced John Kostecki as the team tactician with the score at 4-1, Oracle roared back in dramatic fashion.
Ainslie is the first Briton to experience victory at the event since Charlie Barr led the American team Columbia to three consecutive victories in 1899, 1901 and 1903.
The champagne was in full flow by the time Oracle made it back to dry land with fans in raptures at the side of the port.
"It really is all about the team," added Spithill. "On your own you're nothing, the team make you look great.
"I'm so proud of the boys. We were staring down the barrel at 8-1 but the boys didn't even flinch. It was a fantastic team effort."
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker was left inconsolable at the conclusion of the titanic tussle.
He added: "I'm incredibly proud of the team and what they've achieved but gutted we didn't get the last win we needed to take the cup back to New Zealand.
"It's hard to swallow."
Loading weather data ...
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It didn't take long for the party to get started following Oracle Team USA's victory. The reigning champion, which had trailed 8-1 at one stage, won by 44 seconds in the final race to win the competition 9-8.
Emirates Team New Zealand fans thought they would be celebrating a famous victory with their crew taking an 8-1 lead in the contest -- but an incredible fightback by Oracle Team USA forced a decisive race. Only twice before in the competition's 162-year history has there been a winner-takes-all final.
British Olympic hero Ben Ainslie has been the catalyst for Oracle Team USA's fightback. Ainslie, 36, took over the role of tactician from John Kostecki with his team 4-1 down.
Oracle Team USA was given a huge ovation by the home crowd as its team members boarded the ferry. Supporters flocked to watch with the prospect of history being made.
Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, took to the water hoping to turn around its nightmare run of form.
Oracle Team USA took the water knowing victory would cap off a historic comeback victory.
Emirates Team New Zealand made an encouraging start but it was the reigning champion which went on to dominate the contest -- winning by 44 seconds.
Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill celebrates the victory following the race's dramatic conclusion.
The celebrations begin as Oracle Team USA pull off a momentous victory to win the America's Cup 9-8.
|