Team NZ win in Sweden

An elated Emirates Team New Zealand, lead by Tauranga helmsman Peter Burling, performed under pressure to take the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Gothenburg overnight.

The regatta was there for the taking going into the two double-points races.


Team NZ were triumphant in Gothenburg overnight. Photos: Supplied.

Local favourites Artemis Racing got off to a strong start in the first race of the day, and by the bottom mark had picked up a puff which eluded the fleet and were away to take a significant win to put them right back in the hunt for the overall win.

But it was the order of the following boats in race one which really set the foundation for a dramatic final race.

A pre-start penalty resulted in Team NZ being last off the start line. But they managed to graft their way back through the fleet to cross the line in second-place, ahead of Land Rover BAR and Oracle Team USA.

All three were tied on points, and with Artemis Racing just two points adrift, it set up what was effectively a winner takes all final race between the four teams.

Oracle Team USA had a strong start, and a good lead by the bottom mark two. Burling and friends rounded in third place, some 100 metres behind the leaders.

The key to the race, and effectively winning the regatta, came on leg three, when Team New Zealand split from the leaders at the bottom gate.

'We planned that from a long way out, we had a long chat amongst the guys and took the right hand gate even though it looked pretty bad for a long time,” explains Peter.

'We knew we were going to have a couple less tacks and have better pressure for that whole upwind but also get that right hand side at the top.”

Converging at the top mark, Team New Zealand rolled the American's to round the top mark in front closely ahead of Softbank Team Japan.

'Ray and Pete managed to get the boat around the track really nicely as did Blair and Guy, so we are starting to gel really nicely,” says skipper Glenn Ashby.

'There were plenty of snakes and ladders out there, plenty of opportunity and also room for going backwards quickly as well. But we were really happy with the way we sailed. It's a fantastic result for us.”

Peter continues: 'We were really proud being able to perform under pressure in that last race. It is precisely what we set out to do, so all in all we are really elated with today and with the regatta as a whole”

Emirates Team New Zealand are the only team to have been in the top three in every race of the 2015 World Series this year, and as a result have a seven point lead overall in the series, ahead of Land Rover BAR & Oracle Team USA.

OVERALL STANDINGS AT THE LOUIS VUITTON AMERICA'S CUP WORLD SERIES FOLLOWING THE FIRST TWO EVENTS:

Emirates Team New Zealand - 72

Land Rover BAR - 65

Oracle Team USA - 64

SoftBank Team Japan - 56

Artemis Racing - 53

Groupama Team France - 50

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.