Team New Zealand have become the first modern-era team to win three straight America's Cup regattas.
Peter Burling, Nathan Outerridge and Co finished the job with another comfortable victory in Race 9 in light winds in Barcelona on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time), taking an unassailable 7-2 advantage in the best-of-13 Finals Match.
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“What an amazing feeling,” TNZ starboard helmsman Burling said. “It’s been a tough battle all week, but an amazing scoreline and I’m really proud of the way the team just kept battling today.”
It was a result reflective of just how strong the Kiwis have been sailing in their second defence of the Auld Mug.
The British punished them for a couple of errors in high seas on Wednesday (Thursday NZT), but otherwise TNZ sailed a clean regatta, picking the wind shifts and getting the better of their counterparts.
“A huge well done to Team New Zealand,” Britannia starboard helmsman Ben Ainslie said. “What an amazing campaign and team. In my view, I think they’re the best team ever in the America’s Cup. It’s quite some achievement so well done to them.”
Day six of racing was delayed by 40 minutes as light winds threatened to drag proceedings into the late afternoon, before the wind limit was reached.
The British won pre-start and forced TNZ to tack away to the right side of the course at the starting line. But TNZ found some breeze and sailed ahead, going across Britannia's bow at the first cross.
TNZ led by 19 seconds at the first gate, and it seemed like only a big mistake would prevent them from locking away the America's Cup. They made a minor one, allowing Britannia to prosper on the right side to get back into the contest.
The race was a dead heat around the third mark, but TNZ got the pick of the shifts as the two split the course early on the second downwind leg and put some breathing room between the two boats.
From there, they kicked on to close out a 37-second win.
37TH AMERICA'S CUP MATCH RESULTS
Race 1: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 41 seconds
Race 2: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 27 seconds
Race 3: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 52 seconds
Race 4: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 23 seconds
Race 5: Britannia beat Team New Zealand by 1 minute 18 seconds
Race 6: Britannia beat Team New Zealand by 7 seconds
Race 7: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 1 minute 13 seconds
Race 8: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 55 seconds
Race 9: Team New Zealand beat Britannia by 37 seconds
Team New Zealand beat Ineos Britannia 7-2 in the best-of-13 series