Team NZ notch record speed

Team New Zealand set a new speed record in going 6-1 up against Italy's Luna Rossa and moving to within one win of challenging for the America's Cup.

Team New Zealand will have to wait another day to try to seal a place in the America's Cup after a record-breaking performance that got them to match point in the challengers' series.

Skipper Dean Barker and his crew again dominated Italian rivals Luna Rossa to go 6-1 up in the best-of-13 Louis Vuitton Cup final.

The planned second race on Sunday (AEST time) was called off because the wind in San Francisco Bay went above the 23-knot limit and it has been rescheduled for Monday.

Team NZ's latest victory in 18 to 21.4-knot breezes was by the comfortable margin of 1min 58sec.

The two AC72 catamarans were bow to bow when they hit the start line, but Team NZ had the favoured windward position.

They then produced a sudden burst of acceleration that quickly took them clear.

As they flew around the 10.25-nautical-mile course, the New Zealanders set a new regatta speed record of 47.18 knots, or 87km/h, at the third-mark rounding.

That beat their previous record of 44.15 knots, while Luna Rossa clocked their own personal best of 43.36 knots.

"It's been a while since we've raced in this breeze," Team NZ skipper Barker said.

"It was just awesome sailing in these boats."

The winners of the challengers' series earn the right to go head to head with America's Cup defenders Oracle Team USA in a best-of-17 series beginning on September 8.

While an early finish would mean more time for fine-tuning the boat, Barker was also grateful for the opportunities for competition.

"There's always improvements and gains to be had," he said.

"It's using what you've got and developing that, and it's a big challenge. There's always areas you know you're going to have to improve."

Luna Rossa tactician Francesco Bruni felt the Italian yacht went well downwind, but it was different story in the other direction.

"It's a one-way track upwind," he said.

"There is not much to do. The leading boat is just going to extend."


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Source: AAP


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