Team New Zealand have had a strong day out on the water in Barcelona, winning two of two races but had to survive a scare in the final race of the day.
After racing was called off yesterday due to adverse weather conditions, the Kiwis started day six of racing by comfortably beating INEOS Britannia by more than four minutes (242 seconds).
The Kiwi boat had a good start off the line but at the first tack, the British went off the foils and handed a significant advantage to the Kiwis who held a lead by 24 seconds going around the first marker. A drop in the breeze caused the race committee to shorten the remaining legs.
Trying to catch up with Team New Zealand, the British came off the foils yet again at the final gate to hand the Kiwis their first win of the day.
A similar sight unfolded as Team New Zealand took on Orient Express Racing Team from France in their second race of the day. The French went off the foils at the pre-start and gifted the Kiwis an uncontested start.
Despite holding a lengthy lead, it was then the Kiwis turn to go off the foils as the wind dropped to just five knots, which allowed the French team to take a surprise lead.
In what could've been the biggest upset of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the French extended their lead to 450m, but as they approached the second gate they splashed down and handed the lead back to Team New Zealand. Peter Burling and his crew held on to win the final race of the day by more than two legs.
Team New Zealand can't earn points in the Louis Vuitton Cup as they are the defenders so are already through to the America's Cup final.
This loss for the Orient Express leaves them at the bottom of the Louis Vuitton Cup standings with just one win behind Alinghi Red Bull Racing on two, as they picked up a crucial win over American Magic earlier in the day.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli still lead the Louis Vuitton Cup with five wins from five nearing the end of the double round robin stage.
The team that finishes bottom at the end of the double round robin races will be eliminated, and at the moment Orient Express look increasingly more likely to be exiting the competition first with just two races left for the French to race.
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