In one of New Zealand’s final races before the final 4 is decided and Emirates Team New Zealand is excluded from racing until the America’s Cup proper⏤the Kiwis demonstrated their skill today with a commanding victory over Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Despite a strong start from the Alinghi, who took the (very) early lead, New Zealand quickly gained control halfway through the first leg, from that point onward turning the race into a showcase of their dominance.
The opening moments were closely contested, with both teams battling fiercely. New Zealand passed through the first gate at 3 minutes 47 seconds, just 7 seconds ahead of Switzerland. As the second leg unfolded, New Zealand extended their lead to 140 metres, never showing any signs of relinquishing control.
By the time they reached the second gate at 6:58, New Zealand had solidified their advantage, with Switzerland trailing by 16 seconds. Both teams raced neck and neck in leg three, reaching speeds of 45 knots, but it was clear that Alinghi had no chance of catching up. Emirates Team New Zealand pulled further ahead, stretching their lead to nearly 300 metres as they crossed the third gate at 11:10, while the Swiss followed 20 seconds later, having fallen significantly behind since the previous gate.
The Kiwis continued to widen the gap, boasting a 500-metre lead midway through leg four. They rounded gate four at 14:16, with Alinghi a distant 23 seconds behind. The Swiss had lost valuable time and struggled to keep pace.
Despite a brief reduction in their lead, with New Zealand shrinking their advantage to 350 metres, they powered through gate five at 18:39, entering the final leg with Switzerland still nowhere in sight. By the last stretch, New Zealand was an impressive 800 metres ahead, ultimately securing the victory at 21 minutes 36 seconds, a clear demonstration of their dominance throughout the race.
Switzerland crossed the finish line 38 seconds after New Zealand, marking a decisive win for the Kiwis in what was a thrilling and commanding performance from start to finish.
New Zealand’s victory was strong and clear, leaving the Swiss struggling to close the gap in what was a masterclass of speed and strategy.
