I spy ... something beginning with O

Team New Zealand are promising more speed after a successful return to the water in Bermuda, testing their latest tweaks as they try to seal an America’s Cup victory.

Team NZ won the opening four races against Oracle Team USA earlier this week and have had Aotearoa in the boat shed since then to continue development work.

They put those refinement under the microscope yesterday in their favoured light conditions which are expected to feature when Cup racing resumes on Sunday.

Oracle spies watched every move, hounding the Kiwis the moment they brought the revamped Aotearoa out to the dock for launching and following them out on to the Great Sound.

Team NZ technical director Dan Bernasconi confirmed refinements had been made to appendages, the wingsail and general aerodynamics in their quest to stay ahead of the defenders.

Oracle, desperately seeking speed gains, have been working overtime but there has been no lack of energy in the Kiwi syndicate and Bernasconi insisted that would continue right up to Sunday’s opening gun and beyond.

‘‘We’ve still got plenty to do, plenty on the list. We have been making changes over the last couple of days and will continue to up until the weekend ... just continuing to try and improve where we can.’’

Team NZ’s light air package has been hugely impressive and is the area where Oracle need some instant gains if they are to pull off another comeback like their San Francisco effort four years ago.

The forecast for Sunday to Monday is in the 7-11 knots range where Team NZ have excelled so far in the regatta.