America’s Cup does not runneth over

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Larry Ellison's BMW Oracle Racing team lost the chance to participate in the America's Cup final-a first for the United States. Photo courtesy BMW World

It was quite a blow and we’re not talking about the wind. For the first time in 24 years, there will be no U.S. yacht in the America’s Cup final. Competing in Valencia, Spain, the American entry, BMW Oracle Racing, was handily beaten 5-1 in a best of nine challenger series. Larry Ellison, local zillionaire, poured body and soul and money (lots of it) to bring the coveted cup back to America after it was lost for the first time in 1983.

Ellison is reported to have spent $270 million to head the syndicate that sponsored the yacht. Ellison was aboard the yacht as it lost its final race to the Italian entry, Luna Rossa, under skipper Francesco De Angelis.

Luna Rossa will meet the winner of the other semifinal series between Emirates Team New Zealand and Desafío Español.

The winner of that semifinal and the Luna Rossa will compete to see who will advance to race against defending champion Alinghi from June 23 to July 4.

America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in sports and for 132 years the competition was dominated by the United States. The series of races began when the boat of John Cox Stevens, founder of the New York Yacht Club, crossed to Atlantic to beat British vessels.

The prize was held by the United States from 1852 to 1983 when its entry was beaten by challenger Australia II. Men like Sir Thomas Lipton, Harold Vanderbilt and, more recently, Ted Turner poured money into winning and losing efforts. Now Larry Ellison can be added to the list.