America’s Cup: Team NZ eliminated from Youth America’s Cup as group stages conclude

Emirates Team New Zealand were eliminated in the group stages of the Youth America's Cup. Photo / Ian Roman, America's Cup.

Another day of mixed results has seen Team New Zealand fail to progress from the group stages of the Youth America’s Cup.

In an extended four-race schedule this morning, the Kiwi crew finished second twice - results that saw them surge back into finals contention as they bagged seven points each toward their tally. But adding just two points in each of the other two races with two fifth-placed finishes in the six-boat fleet proved costly as they missed out on qualification to the semifinal series by four points.

Team NZ finished with a total of 34 points to sit fifth in their group, with only the top three moving on.

It became a three-team shootout to see who would progress into the semifinal stages alongside Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Italy) and American Magic, with Team NZ, Athena Pathway (UK) and Orient Express-L’Oreal Racing Team (France) all with a chance to snatch that third placing with a good final race.

The Kiwis were slow off the line in the eighth and final race of Group A’s schedule, with Group B featuring the six invited nations having been completed earlier in the day. But the door was opened for them toward the top of the first leg with the French touched down and parked up with an apparent issue onboard.

Team NZ rounded the first gate fourth, 17s adrift of the leaders, and had moved into third by the second gate, with the British and American boats ahead of them, but were back to fourth at the penultimate gate.

The British sailed a strong race to finish in second, while a bad final gybe saw the Kiwis touchdown and end their campaign early as they were ultimately the last of the competing boats over the line.

Finished second saw Athena Pathway lifted to 37 points, with Orient Express, who did not finish the final race, on 35, and Team NZ finishing on 34.

In Group B, hometown crew Sail Team BCN progressed into the knockout stages alongside the Swedish Challenge and Andoo Team Australia crews, with Canada, Netherlands and Germany eliminated at the end of group stages.

The six remaining teams will now compete in four fleet races, with the top two moving on to contest a one-off match race to determine the regatta winner.

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.