"The best case is, the wind shifts and the oil doesn't hit, " said Tom MacKenzie of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

CNN: Oil spill could be disaster for animals, experts say

Team New Zealand opted to go around the left buoy and Alinghi went around the right, but the defending champions made the most of better wind shifts and tacked aggressively to squeeze back in front.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Sailing | Alinghi on brink of retaining Cup

It is still possible that changes in wind patterns and longer-term natural climate shifts may slow the currently tumultuous process of decline.

ECONOMIST: Summer ice in the Arctic Ocean is vanishing rapidly