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Ainslie's America's Cup miracle

Hampshire sailor, Sir Ben Ainslie, is on the verge of pulling off one of the most amazing come-backs in sport in San Francisco Bay. He is the tactician onboard Team Oracle USA who were losing badly to Emirates Team New Zealand, but are now level.

Sir Ben Ainslie on the brink of one of the biggest come-backs in sporting history

It's called the America's Cup but it all started off the Isle of Wight in 1851 when an a crew from America beat a crew from Hampshire to win what is now the oldest trophy in sport - the Auld Mug.

The crew of Team Oracle USA hitting a wave at 40 knots Credit: Ben Argot/AP Photo

ORACLE TEAM USA scored its sixth consecutive win in Race 17 of the 34th America’s Cup and lies within one point of Emirates Team New Zealand. The Kiwis have needed just one win to capture the America’s Cup after moving opening a lead of 8-1 last Wednesday, and now lead the series 8-7.

Skipper Jimmy Spithill insists his Oracle Team USA are still the underdogs despite recording their sixth and seventh straight wins to take the America's Cup to a decider against Emirates Team New Zealand.

Team Oracle USA were 8-1 down in the series until Sir Ben Ainslie became tactician Credit: Ben Argot/AP Photo

Spithill's team, with Sir Ben Ainslie as the tactician, have battled back magnificently and won race 17 by 27 seconds and race 18 by 54 seconds to set up a winner-take-all finale on Wednesday evening.

Another victory for Team Oracle USA in the America's Cup Credit: Ben Argot/AP Photo

Only twice before in the 162-year history of the competition has there been a winner-take-all race, in 1920 and 1983 respectively