The Province

KIWI BOAT SURGES TO EARLY LEAD IN AMERICA’S CUP

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Peter Burling and Emirates Team New Zealand survived two heart-stopping moments to win the first two races of the 35th America’s Cup against Jimmy Spithill and two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA on the Great Sound Saturday.

Although they won twice, by 30 seconds and 1 minute, 28 seconds, the Kiwis lead just 1-0. Oracle won a bonus point for winning the qualifiers, but it was actually a negative point for the Kiwis. That means they need to win eight races to spirit the Auld Mug back to the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland, where it resided from 1995 until 2003. Oracle needs to win seven to keep the silver trophy in the hands of American software billionair­e Larry Ellison.

This is a rematch of the epic 2013 America’s Cup, when Team New Zealand, then skippered by Dean Barker, reached match point at 8-1 before Oracle Team USA won eight straight races to retain the oldest trophy in internatio­nal sports.

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