America’s Cup Christmas Race: First race time after New Zealand Ineos Team UK return

The New Zealand team will have to wait to reach the final of the Prada Christmas Cup, after a really strange race over Ineos Team UK on Sunday.

The race was not over, as it exceeded the 45-minute time limit, after the breeze died down at the start of stage four for the Kiwis.

At that stage, Ineos Team UK was already out of the competition, more than five kilometers behind, after spending most of the race outside of their foils.

It had echoes of 2013, with the New Zealand union far ahead of its rivals, but in the end all for nothing, as they were a few hundred meters from the line.

The two teams will compete again after the second semi-final between Luna Rossa and American Magic.

No one expected the beleaguered British to approach the local union, but the shape of this race would have been impossible to predict.

With gentle breezes, which died away as the race progressed, the New Zealand team was ready to finish the course, which was shortened to four stages, before the British had completed even one lap.

Both teams were completely calm in the last period of the race.

When the race was canceled, the New Zealand team was ahead by more than 5,000 meters.

Previously, INEOS Team UK had spent much of the race out of bounds, trying in vain to find some air to lift their foils.

For the most part it was unsuccessful, and his worst demonstration of what the past tough days have been.

It became a Sunday cruise for the Kiwis, who enjoyed a mostly clean race, but had absolutely no pressure.

Before, it was a noticeably different pre-start. More than the jousts, the main priority was to stay on the foil, after yesterday’s numbers.

The British seemed confident for a time, before everything collapsed again. They were forced to make a late, late tack at the far end of the starting line, which knocked them out of the foils.

After two minutes, and a tack, the New Zealand team was already 500 meters ahead.

When the UK team finally rallied on the foils, they went out of bounds to incur a penalty.

It soon became something of a Shakespearean farce, as the British disappeared from the course in search of wind to find some flight.

It meant that the New Zealand team passed the second mark before their opponents reached the first, but the worst was yet to come.

It took the British almost 20 minutes when they finally crossed the upper mark, before the wind completely died for both teams, who were left adrift helplessly on the course.

Enjoy a smooth sailing to the Cup with Auckland Transport

• Avoid traffic congestion and parking problems and download the AT Mobile app to plan your bus, train or ferry trip to race venues before you leave home.

• Make sure your AT HOP card is in your pocket. It’s the best way to get to the Cup

• For more ways to enjoy race day, visit at.govt.nz/americascup