Intro:

Oracle Team USA dominated day two of the AC World Series San Francisco on home soil on Thursday.

Script:

Oracle Team USA put on a fine show for their partisan fans in AC World Series San Francisco on Thursday.

Conditions were good for racing, with winds in the 12- to 16- knot range.

In the first set of sudden-death Match Racing quarterfinals, Swordfish fell to the 2011-12 Match Racing champions, Terry Hutchinson and his Artemis Racing White crew in a race the Swedish team controlled from the start.

Then, Chris Draper's Piranha team came up against the overall season title-holders in Oracle Team USA Spithill.

The American team timed the start to perfection and protected its early lead well, fending off a mid-race attack from the Italians, to earn a spot in the semi-finals.

In the opening fleet race of the championship, the veteran Russell Coutts made an extraordinary start, speeding past his rivals for an early lead he would hold to the finish.

His stablemate Jimmy Spithill wasn't far behind, putting two American boats at the top of the table.

After placing second in the first race, Oracle Team USA's Spithill put his stamp on the second contest, grabbing the lead from China Team at mark two and fighting off both Artemis Racing crews to hold on for the win and top spot at the end of the day.

Racing continues in San Francisco until Sunday.