America's Cup: Team New Zealand's dominant day put defenders at match point

It was promised to be a sailors’ day of opportunity on day five of the 37th America’s Cup Match, and that’s just what it turned out to be for Emirates Team New Zealand.

Winning the crucial game of meteorology and taking maximum points on offer, it leaves the regatta on match point heading into a predicted light Saturday where crowds will be peaking in Barcelona.

In the first race of the day, navigating the very inconsistent puffs of wind became a priority for both crews but it was Peter Burling’s men who managed to capitalise on the patchy pressure best.

Getting in a strong position off the start line above INEOS Britannia meant Taihoro got access to a big right hand shift which became gold dust for the Kiwis, defending that side of the course until the lead was unassailable.

Speaking to the broadcast, Team NZ coach Ray Davies gave big credit to their weather team for finding that edge and skipper Peter Burling was equally pleased to see a well executed plan pay dividends.

“We had a lot of chat, we’d gone through the top marks before we started, had a lot of chat with the coach boat as well, we were definitely very much guarded against the right on that first race and it’s great to see the hard work of making a good plan actually come off,” Burling said.

“I think the prestart meant you could take the first shift today in many ways, we got the start we wanted both times.”

“I think INEOS made life a little bit easier for us than they could have in the first one.”

The day’s second race saw one of the cleanest starts of The Match for Team New Zealand, pinging the line with just a metre up their sleeve and again getting access to the first and most important wind shift.

Flight controller Andy Maloney explained how much the crew lifted for the challenge of a day with puffy wind conditions.

“The four of us on board today from the sailing crew were seeing the breeze very similar to one another today which made it very fun racing and very satisfying," Maloney said.

“On the windward side of the boat you know we can see the breeze a lot more than the leeward side, so we have a really good scan and then quickly we have to off load that information for when we tack and go the other way, so it’s a real balancing act between the four of us.”

“Going into today we were pretty excited for some off shore breeze, as a sailor it’s pretty exciting stuff to get out there and try and outpick the competitors on the wind shifts.”

Despite their clear satisfaction for righting the ship with plenty of time, the New Zealand contingent would not get carried away in the aftermath of their glamour day.

Both Burling and co-helm Nathan Outteridge on making it crystal clear, it will be done once it’s done and not before.

There was no mistaking the disappointment in the voice of Britannia’s sailors though, they were comprehensively beaten and face the unknown of a slightly damaged rudder.

Whether sailing transpires on a very light Saturday in Barcelona, both teams will wake up with the prospect of it being their last day of the 37th America’s Cup.

The defenders will be wanting to cut and paste their fine Friday form, whilst the challengers will fight with all they have to get the chance to sail another day.