New Zealand reacts immediately: two races dominated by Ineos, it goes 6-2 and has its first match point in the America’s Cup

BARCELONA – New Zealand’s response came immediately: after losing two races on Wednesday and seeing its lead drop from 4-0 to 4-2, it immediately made up for it by dominating Ineos in the seventh and eighth races of the America’s Cup. A minute and 13 seconds behind the cup holders on the British, then another 55 which brought the lead to 6-2. The cup could be awarded as early as Saturday, Emirates Team New Zealand has 4 match points available

In the first race the British started well, tacking just before the port boundary, but lost immediately in the crossing with the New Zealanders who forced them to enter the waste of their wind. Creating the conditions to immediately separate them by 200 meters and quickly increase the advantage until reaching total domination long before the finish line

In the second, the oceanic team got off to a good start straight away, taking the left side, forcing Ineos to veer to the right already late: at the first gate they were already 15 seconds ahead. But in a race in which the New Zealanders immediately showed off the qualities and speed of their boat that had emerged on the first day, what created further problems for the British was the slight damage to the rudder caused by the collision with an object in the water. The consequence was the brief loss of control of the boat, which fell off the foils and lingered for another 200 metres. At the second gate New Zealand took a 25 second lead, at the third 41, a real lesson from the holders of the America’s Cup who are about to confirm their victory in Auckland in 2021.