BMW Oracle Racing/USA crosses the finish line first off the coast of Valencia, Spain and takes the America's Cup subject to any protest ((Alinghi was flying a red flag off their boat)).
It is the first time that a challenger ((pictured beating Alinghi early on in Race 2, thanks bmor-photo.com)) has won a Deed of Gift match. USA wins 2-0. BMW helmsman Russell Coutts remains unbeaten in the America's Cup match, winning 15 Cup match races on board.
After leading by 28 seconds around the first mark, BMW ORACLE Racing literally flew down the second leg of the race, extending its lead to 2:44.
Larry Ellison's victory ended one of the most bitter chapters in the history of the America's Cup. He and Alinghi head Ernesto Bertarelli fought over their interpretations of the 1887 Deed of Gift, which governs the America's Cup.
Ellison's syndicate eventually prevailed, forcing the rare head-to-head showdown.
This was only the second Deed of Gift match in modern times. The other was in 1988, when Conner steered his catamaran to a two-race sweep of New Zealand's big monohull in San Diego.
The America's Cup should return to its normal system of several challengers competing in sloops for the right to face the defender.
The final margin of victory was almost 5-and-a-half minutes...
"It's absolutely an awesome feeling," said Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp. "I'm very proud to be a part of this team."
See what happens when it goes out of the courts and actually in to the water...???
Here's the highlights of Race 2, thanks to BMW Oracle racing their ownselves...
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