Team Oracle (USA) not only took the wind out of the sails for team Emirates, but for the whole of New Zealand. For a country lacking international stars or achievements, and constantly in the shadow of Australia, this was supposed to be their crowning glory. Set in San Francisco Bay, the competition appeared to be over before it even started as team Emirates took an early 8-1 lead. Two earlier Oracle wins were negated by a previous penalty originating from illegal modifications.

Watching the early races depicted a strong Emirates team that seemed to have an extra gear. Each victory raised media coverage in NZ, and lifted the weight off Kiwis’ shoulders. Then, on the brink of elimination, team Oracle made crew changes and catamaran alterations that would change the tide. At first the changes allowed team Oracle to take close wins, but as momentum grew fortunes were reversed. Somewhere during the best of 17 series team Oracle added two figurative gears to overcome team Emirates.

With each loss Kiwis rationalized that the next race would be the last. That proved to be true only when team Oracle took the last race to win the 34th America’s Cup. Certainty turned into cautious optimism, then to worry, and finally to quiet devastation. For over two weeks America’s Cup was on the tip of every New Zealanders’ tongue, but is never spoken of following the final defeat. Despite being the most competitive series, and largest comeback in any sport, it is as if the event never transpired.