Team New Zealand expects close series with Britannia

Team New Zealand is confident they can at least match Britannia in the America's Cup.

There are now just two boats left in the regatta with the 37th America's Cup challenge to start on 12 October off Barcelona.

The Ben Ainslie led British team Britannia beat Italian syndicate Luna Rossa in a closely-contested Louis Vuitton Cup, securing the right to mount a British challenge for the America's Cup for the first time in 60 years.

Team New Zealand was involved in the first part of the challenger series, but since the semi-finals have been practising on their own.

They watched closely as Britannia edged the Italians and New Zealand team coach Ray Davies expected the America's Cup to be just as close.

"What it comes down to it it's the team that makes the least mistakes and certainly not the first mistake," Davies told RNZ.

"If you're on the back foot and you've made the first mistake the other boat has the option of deciding what side of the course it goes and can spread a bit of dirty air onto you, so it's a huge advantage."

Davies said a lot of effort had gone into their pre-start strategies.

"It's a bit of a dance before the start to make sure you can hit that start line with more speed than the other boat.

"It's like a game of chess in the pre-start to get that sling shot off the line."

Davies said they coiuld get an idea how they would compare to their opposition, but admitted they would not really know until they lined up alongside them.

"We have a fair idea and really what we do know is that it's going to be really close.

"We're not going to walk away with it, but we don't think they're going to either."

Davies said Britannia had obviously got a lot better as the regatta has progressed.

"A lot of that is simply the way they sail the boat.

"They still have a few weaknesses but they're not making that first mistake and Luna Rossa were often making the first mistake in the challenger final.

"We've been looking into what they do and trying some of that but we haven't changed what we do yet so we'll find out if our technique is better than theirs."

The America's Cup will be decided in a first to seven wins series.

The "Auld Mug" was first raced for off the south coast of England in 1851 and has never been won by Britain.