The teams split their round robin races, each winning by 40 seconds. Their four quarterfinal matches were decided by an average of 20 seconds. They produced the closest finish of the Louis Vuitton Cup, a 3-second difference.

Although the quarter final and semi final repechage matches were lopsided, each 4-0, the two always seemed to be locked together going around the racecourse.

In the end, one statistic stood out: 9-13. Of OneWorld’s 13 losses, nine were to Oracle BMW Racing. So it was no surprise that Oracle BMW eliminated OneWorld from the Louis Vuitton Cup yesterday.

“We’re in this position simply because we weren’t good enough to beat these guys,” said an emotional OneWorld skipper Peter Gilmour. “We don’t have any regrets about what could’ve been or should’ve been. It’s simply a matter of winning races out there on the water and that’s what we set out to do.”

Needless to say, that’s what OneWorld failed to do. Oracle BMW hardly gave OneWorld breathing room in their recently completed match-up. They won the four races by an average of 1 minute, 32.5 seconds. They led at 17 of 20 mark roundings. The first time they trailed at a mark was the first windward mark of yesterday’s final race.

Oracle BMW Racing didn’t win the first cross in every race, two out of four, but showed the marks of a strong team by taking advantage of their opportunities.

“Oracle did a fabulous job of keeping their opportunities alive,” Gilmour said. “They had some certain sweet spots in the performance of their boat. It is quite narrow so it goes well downwind. They can dive into quite effective positions off the breeze. They used that to good effect against us.”

That ability was never more apparent than in yesterday’s deciding race. OneWorld, seemingly on its way to a victory, led around the second windward mark by 48 seconds. In a 20-degree left-hand shift, they jibe set around the mark to begin the run.

Oracle BMW bore away, heading down the opposite side of the track. Suddenly, the black USA-76 found more pressure and a header, and was able to sail a faster, more direct course to the leeward mark.

In a matter of 18 minutes, the time it took to sail the 3-mile leg, they turned that deficit into a 38-second advantage, a swing of 1 minute, 26 seconds.

“I think the difficult thing is that there is a band of no air between the two yachts and so one of the yachts has to cross that,” Gilmour explained. “The longer you can leave that the more chance you have of maintaining or holding your position. It’s just part of the game that you open up and present yourself to those unique opportunities.”

Five days ago hardly anyone believed that Oracle BMW Racing would defeat OneWorld in four straight. Many felt it would be difficult for OneWorld to advance given that they had to win five races, but no one thought they’d be shut out.

OneWorld set high standards for crew work throughout their racing. They handled their boat like it was a dinghy, throwing it around marks with seeming ease. Their jibe sets to asymmetric spinnakers, a quite technical manoeuvre, were particularly smooth.

And they showcased it all behind a highly talented young helmsman, James Spithill. The 23-year-old Australian never seemed weak or frustrated. He showed such a deft touch on the helm that it’s hard to think he won’t win the Auld Mug one day.

In a symbolic gesture of his bright future in this event, Yves Carcelle, Chairman of Louis Vuitton Group, presented him with a Louis Vuitton chronograph at yesterday’s press conference.

Today, however, on Christmas Eve, Gilmour, Spithill, and the rest of the OneWorld group are stunned.

“It was only just a reality after the last race that you’re not actually going to turn up to work tomorrow,” said Spithill. “You’re not going to go out sailing with your mates and you’re not going to see all your friends on the shore – yes, it hits you pretty hard.

“I have had a great time with this team, it’s been fantastic working with Gilly and all the people. It’s just such a good team, everyone is so friendly and gets on so well,” Spithill continued. “I guess the hardest part for me is just departing and closing shop over Christmas, but I would really like to congratulate Oracle. We sailed two very tough series against them, they were just too good on the water for us.”

OneWorld ends the Louis Vuitton Cup in third place with a 20-13 on the water record. They may have travelled a rocky road along the way, but no one can prove them of being unsportsmanlike.

Source: Sean McNeill