Team New Zealand boat Te Kakahi (C) at the America's Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah. Photo: photosport
Team New Zealand are guaranteed a place in the America's Cup preliminary regatta's match racing final after two more fleet race wins in Saudi Arabia.
The Peter Burling-skippered crew's second day performance mirrored their first, when they won two of three fleet races in the Red Sea off Jeddah to pull further clear on the regatta standings.
The other race on Saturday was won by Italian outfit Luna Rossa, who look set to join Team New Zealand in the final but still need solid results in races seven and eight when fleet racing for the six AC40 boats winds up on Sunday.
Team New Zealand's four wins leaves them on 49 points, well clear of Luna Rossa (38), Alinghi (27), Britannia (22), American Magic (16) and Orient Express (14).
Team NZ co-helmsman Nathan Outteridge said the competition was tight.
"It felt like there was never a moment where you could relax. The Italians pushed us really hard in the middle race and disappeared in the first one. In the last race, it was almost a four-way battle," Outteridge said.
"It was fantastic, that's what we've been looking for. It was intense, fast, close racing where accuracy was important. We were pushed hard, but we're very happy with our results."
The Saudi Arabia event is the second of three preliminary regattas ahead of New Zealand's defence of the Auld Mug in Barcelona next year in bigger, AC75 boats.
