the associated press ADVERTISING the associated press Emirates Team New Zealand sped away from Sweden’s Artemis Racing on Bermuda’s Great Sound on Monday to advance to the America’s Cup match and another showdown with nemesis Oracle Team USA. With unflappable
the associated press
Emirates Team New Zealand sped away from Sweden’s Artemis Racing on Bermuda’s Great Sound on Monday to advance to the America’s Cup match and another showdown with nemesis Oracle Team USA.
With unflappable 26-year-old Peter Burling at the helm, the Kiwis finally won a start against Artemis skipper Nathan Outteridge. Their 50-foot catamaran rose up on hydrofoils and showed its incredible speed in a 56-second, wire-to-wire victory that clinched the best-of-nine challenger finals at 5-2.
There were subdued celebrations aboard the Kiwi cat until a magnum of champagne arrived. Grinder-trimmer Blair Tuke, who teamed with Burling to win Olympic gold and silver medals, popped the cork and sprayed his mates.
The victory sets up a rematch of the epic 2013 America’s Cup, when Team New Zealand blew an 8-1 lead on San Francisco Bay and watched as Oracle Team USA’s Jimmy Spithill won eight straight races to retain the Auld Mug.
The match starts Saturday with Races 1 and 2. Oracle Team USA, owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, needs to win seven races to keep the oldest trophy in international sports. Because Oracle won a bonus point by winning the qualifiers, Team New Zealand must win eight races.
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