AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The Louis Vuitton Cup final is set between Switzerland's Alinghi and the United States' Oracle/BMW Racing. Alinghi has won five of the six previous races, and defending America's Cup champion Russell Coutts is the heavy favorite to beat Oracle in the best-of-nine series scheduled to begin Jan. 11.

Oracle has several things going for it. The Farr Yacht design team is hungry for victory. This is the firm's sixth cup campaign and it desperately wants to win. The Farr people will be working overtime looking for small improvements in speed. Funding is not an issue, which is essential at this late stage. The crew has performed well on the water. The semifinal repechage match against OneWorld was a good tune-up to prepare for Alinghi.

The combination of Farr and Oracle skipper Chris Dickson has worked together twice in the past (1987, 1995). Dickson has a good technical mind and will be open to ideas from the design team. By defeating OneWorld quickly (4-0), Dickson and crew now have nearly three weeks to prepare, and will have to practice every day. Starting technique and clever sailing strategy have made the difference in the racing so far, and the whole team must be tuned to a fine edge because Alinghi has thus far sailed flawlessly.

The teams should encourage CORM, the regatta's manager, to raise the wind limit to 25 knots. Oracle seems to do well in a stronger breeze plus both teams need to be ready for Team New Zealand. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will run races up to this wind level.

Oracle needs to settle down its rotation in the cockpit. Peter Holmberg has been outstanding as the starting helmsman. Dickson likes to steer but also tends to look around. The team needs to make a decision, practice in that mode and stick to it through the racing.

Oracle will find that all of New Zealand hopes they defeat Alinghi. Russell Coutts is very unpopular in his native country for jumping ship to Switzerland. I think the New Zealanders would prefer to take on the Americans in the Cup final.

Whether either Alinghi or Oracle can defeat Team New Zealand in the America's Cup is still a big question. But for now all the energy of both teams is focused on earning that privilege. Alinghi is favored but Oracle has a shot if it practices well, finds a little bit more speed and sails flawlessly.

In 1977, Gary Jobson served as tactician to win the America's Cup for Ted Turner. ESPN's lead sailing analyst, Jobson is writing a weekly column during the Challenger Trials. E-mail him at garyjobson@cs.com or check out his Web site at jobsonsailing.com.