Burling forced Oracle to turn head to wind, almost slowing Spithill to a complete stop, before the Kiwis peeled away and accelerated over the line. By the time Oracle were able to build speed again they had a 14-second deficit at the first mark.
Broadcast footage shows Burling's hand signal as Team New Zealand hit the accelerator and tore away to the big lead - an advantage the Kiwis never surrendered to go to match point in the first-to-seven-wins Cup final.
Burling was asked about the wave by an Italian journalist at the post-race press conference.
"At a certain moment, you make some movement with your arms, something like 'goodbye, see you at the finish line'?" the journalist said to Burling.
"Am I wrong?"
The Kiwi star was shrewd enough not to buy in, instead suggesting the reporter might have misinterpreted the gesture.
"I think I actually made the comment to the boys 'it's a bit easier if you do it like that'," responded Burling.
"Jimmy was pretty close to getting us in a start like that yesterday and we felt that, if we pulled off the manoeuvre with them sitting two hulls, we had a pretty good opportunity to get the hook."
"It's something we practiced ... full credit to everyone on board."
Once Burling had the hook on the US boat, Oracle were obliged to steer clear of Team NZ.
