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The New Zealand team has won the America’s Cup World Series regatta after winning both of their races on the final day against American Magic and Luna Rossa.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The result also gives the hosts the top spots for Sunday’s Christmas Cup.
Britain’s Copa America challenge suffered another major setback with Team INEOS UK’s ‘Britannia’ again off the beat in their World Series careers, while Team New Zealand’s defenders dropped a score ahead of the 36th America’s Cup in March.
This week’s World Series is the first time AC75 foiling monohulls have had competitive races with Ben Ainslie’s British team losing all six of their matches over the three days in a range of light to moderate winds.
The team was also forced to withdraw from one of their races Thursday with a bent arm seemingly locked in place, sparking a war of words between Ainslie and the New Zealand team.
The New Zealand team, however, showed their speed advantage by securing the World Cup series when they beat American Magic, who finished second overall, and then Luna Rossa in a rare final race with both boats in calm in fickle winds.
Peter Burling’s team, however, had trouble handling the boat in race conditions and made several mistakes under pressure, but was able to overcome them with their superior speed.
The New Zealand team has no more competitive matches after Sunday’s ‘Christmas Cup’ races before taking on the winner of the challenge series from January 15 to February 22 at the America’s Cup starting on 6 March.
–RNZ / Reuters
