Three-second heartbreak for OneWorld

Special to The Seattle Times

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — San Francisco-based Oracle BMW Racing claimed a second win yesterday against Seattle's OneWorld Challenge in a classic yacht race with a photo finish.

The margin of victory was only three seconds, the closest finish so far in the America's Cup trials.

Oracle's victory gives it a 2-0 lead on the water over OneWorld in their best-of-seven series in the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinal repechage round. OneWorld also has been penalized a point for a previous rules violation.

The winner advances to the challenger finals next month.

Until the final downwind run, Oracle kept an extremely tight lid on the race — controlling the start and dominating the first five legs of the 18-mile course.

At times, it looked more like a boat parade than a race. Oracle succeeded at blocking nearly all of OneWorld's advances. But on the final leg, OneWorld launched an attack, briefly took the lead and turned it into a breathless battle.

It was a perfect day for yacht racing, with an 18-knot breeze at the start and nearly 300 spectator boats on Hauraki Gulf. As rain clouds threatened, the sailors donned foul-weather gear.

OneWorld helmsman James Spithill fell into trouble and led the boat toward the spectator fleet as Oracle followed closely on its tail.

Oracle helmsman Peter Holmberg chose the breezy left side of the course and crossed the starting line two seconds ahead of OneWorld. The boats headed up the first windward leg toward the distant Sky Tower in Auckland.

Minutes later, a small wind shift on the right side of the course pushed OneWorld into the lead. But halfway up the course, the breeze filled in on the left, giving Oracle a burst of speed.

The two yachts heeled over in the stiff breeze as they tacked back and forth up the course. Oracle rounded the first buoy 16 seconds ahead.

Heading downwind with their parachute-like spinnakers, OneWorld drew to within 3 boat lengths of Oracle and attempted to blanket its fresh air.

But the breeze shifted to the advantage of Oracle, which retained a lead of 5 boat lengths at the second mark.

On the next windward leg, Oracle had a lead of 3 boat lengths. Rounding the third mark, Oracle led by 33 seconds.

Running downwind, OneWorld made a slight gain and rounded the fourth mark 24 seconds behind Oracle.

Spithill gained a few seconds by luring Oracle into a false tacking maneuver on the final windward leg. The two boats drag-raced up the left side of the course, with Oracle ahead by 5 boat lengths. A wind shift helped push OneWorld to within 2 boat lengths at the final mark.

On the last downwind run, OneWorld caught a strong puff of fresh air and attacked. Halfway down the course, OneWorld closed the gap to 1 boat length as Holmberg desperately clung to the lead.

Three minutes from the finish, OneWorld took the lead by less than a boat length. Both yachts gybed toward the finish line.

Oracle accelerated and regained the lead. Oracle crossed the finish line just 15 yards ahead of OneWorld.

Possible Oracle violations studied

Lawyers for OneWorld are looking at leaked documents that could reveal breaches of cup rules by Oracle.

Oracle might have obtained prohibited construction drawings and plans when it bought yachts belonging to the defunct San Francisco team AmericaOne after the 2000 event, according to documents delivered to The Associated Press.

OneWorld challenged Oracle to publicly admit wrongdoing, whether it was intentional or not.

Semifinal repechage

(best of seven)

Thursday

Oracle def. OneWorld by 4 minutes, 8 seconds.

Yesterday

Oracle def. OneWorld by 3 seconds (Oracle 2, OneWorld -1).

Today

OneWorld vs. Oracle.

Louis Vuitton Cup

Jan. 11-25

Alinghi vs. semifinal repechage winner in best of nine.