Kiwis capitalise on US mistake

Hamilton – Emirates Team New Zealand drew first blood in the 35th America’s Cup on Saturday, pouncing on a startline mistake from Oracle Team USA to seize a victory over the defenders.

Skipper Jimmy Spithill, trying to pilot the USA to a third straight America’s Cup title, was seconds early across the startline. Forced to drop back two boat lengths, the Americans couldn’t recover.

Even a late mistake from the Kiwi catamaran helmed by Peter Burling, which saw them plunge off their foils and slow dramatically, didn’t give Spithill enough of an opening, and New Zealand won by a narrow 30 seconds. –