After 18 intensely close races, the Cup all hinges on today's epic finale on San Francisco Bay.
Regatta director Iain Murray yesterday warned "fresh to frightening" conditions were expected, but he was this morning optimistic of getting the race away.
A breeze up around the wind limit of 24.4 knots is forecast for around the 1.15pm start time in San Francisco (8.15am NZT), but Murray said conditions throughout the morning have been calmed than expected.
"I looked out the window and hour ago and I was very concerned, I look out the window before I walked over here and I am very happy because the breeze has died down," he said
"We were in a similar position yesterday, we were right on the wind limit about an hour before the start and then the breeze died six knots."
"There's some confidence in the air that we'll get away on time."
The strong breeze is not good news for Team New Zealand who have struggled to match Oracle for speed in the heavier air.
After leading by 200m at mark two only to be reeled in on the upwind leg, Team NZ skipper Dean Barker yesterday admitted Oracle have a clear speed advantage in those conditions.
"I think it's pretty clear to see that we could have tacked just about anywhere and we could have been behind at the end of that leg. They were going pretty damn well and it was the first time that we recognised there was a condition where maybe we're not as strong as we need to be," said Barker.
While hard to swallow for Kiwi fans, the Oracle team have engineered a remarkable comeback to take the regatta to a deciding 19th race. America's Cup chief executive Stephen Barclay said whatever happens today, it will be remembered as the greatest Cup match in history.
"We're here today and we're going to witness history," said Barclay.
