Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, center right, gestures after Oracle Team USA won the 18th race of the America's Cup sailing event against Emirates Team New Zealand, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, in San Francisco.... (Associated Press) 
 
 Skipper Jimmy Spithill and Oracle Team USA won the America's Cup on Wednesday with one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. 
 
 Spithill steered Oracle's space-age, 72-foot catamaran to its eighth straight victory, speeding past Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand in the winner-take-all Race 19 on San Francisco Bay to keep the oldest trophy in international sports in the United States. 
 
 All but defeated a week ago, the 34-year-old Australian and his international crew twice rallied from seven-point deficits to win 9-8. Owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, Oracle Team USA was docked two points for illegally modifying boats in warmup regattas and had to win 11 races to keep the Auld Mug. 
 
 After almost dunking its chances when it buried its bows in a wave shortly after the start, Oracle showed its incredible speed when it reeled in the Kiwis while zigzagging toward the Golden Gate Bridge on the windward third leg. 
 
 As Oracle worked to keep its lead, tactician Ben Ainslie, a four-time Olympic gold medalist from Britain, implored his mates by saying, "This is it. This is it. Working your (rears) off." 
 
 There were hugs and handshakes after Spithill steered the fast cat across the finish line off America's Cup Park on Piers 27-29. Ellison hopped on board and the crew sprayed him with champagne. 
 
 Spithill refused to let his team fold after the penalties were announced four days before racing started and led an almost unimaginable rally. 
 
 How big a win was this? 
 
 In sailing terms, it was the equivalent of the Boston Red Sox sweeping the final four games of the 2004 ALCS over the New York Yankees, the only 3-0 comeback in major league history. It's also comparable to the Philadelphia Flyers overcoming a 0-3 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins in the 2010 NHL playoffs. ||||| Oracle Team USA pulled off one of the most impressive comebacks in sailing history, as skipper James Spithill and his crew flew across the San Francisco Bay and secured the America's Cup in a winner-take-all race in the best-of-17 series. 
 
 #OracleTeamUSA win 34th America's Cup. Great effort by both teams. Absolutely epic #cupbattle on San Francisco Bay! pic.twitter.com/1K2d4I0yN0 — America's Cup (@americascup) September 25, 2013 
 
 Just a week ago, Emirates Team New Zealand led this competition 8-1 and needed just one more win to take the cup. 
 
 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Team Oracle USA skipper Jimmy Spithill. 
 
 At that point, it was unfathomable that the Cup would advance this far, especially considering the stiff penalties that Oracle faced. However, Spithill put his crew to work, and the determined group ran off a long string of victories. 
 
 A good number of those wins came after Team USA opened up big leads against Team New Zealand. However, that trend did not hold over the last two races. Emirates had a slight edge after a fast start during the last race—one that increased as Oracle hit a wave and took a plunge in the water: 
 
 TIM At mark 1, max spd NZL 44.4 kts = 51.1 mph = 82.2 kph; USA 44.3 kts — America's Cup Racing (@americascupLIVE) September 25, 2013 
 
 Shortly thereafter, USA split the race in a near mirror-image of Tuesday's second contest. 
 
 New Zealand had a slight edge as the two boats crossed the first time, but it was clear that Oracle had more speed than the Emirates catamaran. By the time these two crossed the second time, USA had pulled ahead by a small margin. 
 
 Almost dead even!! #OracleTeamUSA has the right of way on the cross and take back the lead!!!!! Fly, boys FLY!! #cupbattle — ORACLE TEAM USA (@OracleTeamUSA) September 25, 2013 
 
 At that point, Oracle began to pull away. 
 
 Emirates desperately tried tacking in an effort to pull closer to the Americans, with little success. USA's speed was simply too much for them to handle. 
 
 Something clicked with Oracle midway through this competition, as the team had its catamaran up on the foils more and more as the race progressed. While strategy and skills played a big role in the eventual outcome, the fact that USA had the faster boat proved to be the difference. 
 
 This all came to the dismay of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key: 
 
 Understandably, things were a little more jovial on the other side. 
 
 GIF via USA Today 
 
 At the conclusion of the race, team owner and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison quickly boarded the boat to celebrate with his crew. And, according to Forbes, he skipped an Oracle conference to do so. 
 
 Not only did his team complete an amazing comeback, but it did so in a thrilling America's Cup. It was Ellison's vision that helped bring these catamarans to the competition, providing great entertainment that will surely be a boon to the sport.
– The US team won the America's Cup in sailing today, and this is pretty much all you need to know about how huge of a comeback it was: It's a best-of-17 series, and Oracle Team USA trailed 8-1 just last week. Do the math, and you'll see why AP calls the victory by skipper Jimmy Spithill's crew over the New Zealand boat "one of the greatest comebacks in sports history." Spithill steered Oracle's space-age, 72-foot catamaran to eight straight wins on San Francisco Bay to keep the oldest trophy in international sports in the US. Sailing fans can head to Bleacher Report for more details and reaction.