Point being that the Austrian's already dropped score is 14th. If they finish badly, it will add up in their score unless they finish even worse than 14th. The worst Lovell and Ogletree can do is get 9 points since their worst race (and their dropped score) is 9th...(i.e. if they finish 14th, they still only get 9 points added because the 14 will be their drop now). Wouter, my man...the way I see it is that;

A) if the USA covered Austria and finished 11th while Austria finishes 12th, USA wins gold (Austria gets 12 points - USA only 9 since their drop will be this 11th place finish. Scores will be 45 and 45 and since USA places highest in last race = winner). If this happens, refer to scenario C as to how Austria could even fall to Bronze.

B) USA has to finish with 2 boats in between them (not 4). If USA got 1st, Austria 4th, totals would be 37 and 37 and again because USA placed higher in the last race = winner.

C) Austria can possibly loose 13 points to drop to bronze if they finish poorly and the current 3rd place, Spain, get's 1st or 2nd. This is because Austria's throw out was a 14th place finish in Race 5. The American's, on the other hand, would have to loose 10 points to Spain in order to drop to bronze but since their throwout is currently a 9, they can't possibly earn more than 9 points in the last race hence there is no way Spain can catch them. USA guaranteed silver or gold.