ORACLE TEAM USA has been staring down the barrel of defeat with the slightest of slipups for the past week. Skipper Jimmy Spithill has played the underdog role since the Kiwis got to match point, and he's still playing that theme in the hopes of a successful defense.

'I think we are the underdog, and I'm going to keep running with that and use that energy for tomorrow,' said Spithill, who at 30 years old in 2010 became the youngest to skipper an America's Cup winner. 'The exciting thing for me is seeing how this team has gelled together. Sometimes you need to face that barrel of the gun to come together. You can get wobbly in the knees or you can look into the barrel. Every day we've managed to step it up more.'

The Kiwis let a great opportunity at victory slip through their hands in Race 18. Barker fended off Spithill in the prestart, gaining a leeward position off the start line, and led at the first turning mark by 5 seconds with both boats blasting along on the verge of control. In fact, Emirates Team New Zealand set the outright speed record for the Summer of Racing at 47.