BMW Oracle wins 33rd America's Cup

AMERICAN challengers BMW Oracle have defeated Swiss holders Alinghi to claim the 33rd America's Cup off the coast of Spain.

UNASSAILABLE LEAD: BMW Oracle claim two races out of three to secure the 33rd America's Cup off the coast of Spain (Getty Images)

BMW Oracle, the first US team to win the trophy since America3 in 1992, had won the first race by over 15 minutes on Friday and clinched the second race of a best of three series by five minutes and 26 seconds.

Light winds had forced officials to delay the start by more than six hours, but the boats crossed the start line just minutes before the time limit for the day expired.

Alinghi did raise a red protest flag on its giant catamaran late on the first leg of the triangle course, but the Swiss dropped the protest after the race, confirming Oracle's win.

Billionaire Larry Ellison's victory over wealthy rival Ernesto Bertarelli sends the oldest trophy in international sports to San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club.

This year's event came after more than two years of often bitter legal wrangles between Ellison and Bertarelli over America's Cup rules.