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Health & Fitness

Foiled Friday The Showdown Today

Can Oracle Hold The Cup Today

America's Cup Updates

Defender ORACLE TEAM USA and challenger Emirates Team New Zealand return to the racecourse today with the scenario exactly the same as yesterday: no margin for error.

RELATED STORY: ORACLE TEAM USA foils Kiwis’ victory plans

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Emirates Team New Zealand stands on match point, leading 8-2 and needing one more point to close out the series. ORACLE TEAM USA can’t afford another loss. Skipper Jimmy Spithill and crew put together a masterful performance in yesterday’s Race 12, winning by 31 seconds to stave off elimination. They need to repeat that performance similarly over the next seven races to retain the Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand also has no margin for error. The longer the series drags out the better the defender’s chances of victory. Skipper Dean Barker needs to put forth a better performance in the prestart today. Yesterday he got too close to the start line, which allowed Spithill to get a late hook and take a 6-second advantage onto the racecourse.

Find out what's happening in Alamedafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Races 13 and 14 are on the slate today, scheduled to start at 1315 and 1415 respectively. If ORACLE TEAM USA wins the first race, the chances of the second race seem better today than the past few days because the tidal influence should be less. High tide in San Francisco is scheduled for 1249, which would mean the ebb factor isn’t as great today.

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