Team New Zealand has snatched the lead in its America's Cup challenger final duel, after Artemis' helmsman fell overboard in the third and final race.
Team New Zealand sailors congratulate one another after beating Artemis Racing in the third race of the America's Cup Challenger playoff finals. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The pair were locked one-all going into the last race, and Team New Zealand was on the charge from behind when disaster struck the Swedish team.
The Swede's helmsman Nathan Outteridge said he lost his footing changing from one hull to the other, and surfaced hoping his team could go on without him.
"I think I just got a little flick off the back of the boat, these boats turn quite quickly and we sprint across. Just as I was crossing, we straightened the turn, which had me sliding down the aft beam.
"I just hoped the boys could finish the race without me then I was nervous Pete was going to run me over, he was coming straight for me but eventually we made eye contact and he missed me by a boat width," Outteridge said.
He said if he had not slipped they would have won the race and be in the lead.
But Team New Zealand's helmsman Peter Burling disagreed, he said despite being behind when Outteridge fell overboard he thought New Zealand would have won the race.
"It was an incredibly tricky day, we struggled a little bit with the starts but there were some tight-fought battles.
"We're happy to have battled back into that last race and it was shaping up to be a very close top mark before Nathan went off," Burling said.
Team New Zealand supporters cheer for the team as they leave the dock on day one of the challenger playoff finals against Artemis. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Earlier in the day Team New Zealand won the first race on their smaller foils - a surprise in the lighter conditions.
But Sweden were able to fight back in the second match-up winning by 12 seconds.
The winner of the best of nine series will go on to challenge Oracle Team USA for the America's Cup.
Artemis and Team New Zealand will race three times again tomorrow morning.
-RNZ