America's Cup: Oracle wins races 14 and 15

Oracle Team USA showed superior tactics to win races 14 and 15 back-to-back, leaving Emirates Team NZ still to grasp victory in the America's Cup sailed on San Franciso Bay.

The series now stands at 8-5 with further racing tomorrow.

Another good start by Oracle in the port entry position in race 15 put it 10s ahead at the first marker in stronger wind conditions.

The margin extended to 700m as Oracle again showed superior speed and tactics for the conditions.

At the second marker, "Oracle has bolted," says commentator Peter Montgomery, noting Team NZ was a minute behind at the turn.

Oracle's speed advantage of four knots was telling as Team NZ's only hope was a mistake by the Americans.

Approaching gate two, Oracle was still well in control, though the wind started to favour Team NZ, which closed the gap to 240m.

This time, Oracle resisted a tacking duel with the New Zealanders and found quicker conditions to extend its lead to 400m.

At gate three, Oracle's margin had dropped to 32s but was in no danger of being overtaken.

Race 14 in detail
Once again, Emirates Team New Zealand, needing just one win to clinch the cup, had to concede to superior tactics of the American boat.

Conditions were perfect with prevailing westerly winds at 14-16 knots with Oracle holding the port entry position at the start.

Oracle led by 6s into the first marker with Oracle using its favoured position to keep Team NZ at bay.

Oracle's tactic is to match every Team NZ move in the tacking on the downward leg. Oracle held a two-boat length advantage at two thirds down the course.

At marker two, Oracle held a 300m margin with Team NZ 24s behind.

In the return windward leg, Oracle's superior speed enabled it to hold the lead but Team NZ started closing the gap to less than 200m through fewer tacks.

At half way up the windward leg, Oracle's lead narrowed to 80m with Team NZ's tacking tactics paying off.

At the top (third) marker, Team NZ was just 15s behind going into the final leg.

Oracle quickly sped up and extended its lead to 300m over the slower Team NZ.

Team NZ made a brief attempt to take the lead, coming within 50m, but lost speed in a jibe and left Oracle well in front.

The gap remained at 200m three-quarters into the leg with Oracle catching the best of the light breezes.

At the botton, final marker, Oracle held its lead to the finish with a margin of 23s.

The fast final leg saw a poor jibe by Oracle, losing its foils, and 200m of its lead. But the lead didn't look in doubt as it rounded the market 37s ahead for the sprint to the line.