Team New Zealand win prestigious award at London Boat Show

Team New Zealand landed a prestigious award at the London Boat Show. Photo / Getty

Emirates Team New Zealand landed a major gong at the London Boat Show in light of their stunning America's Cup success.

The Kiwis where announced winners of the prestigious racing performance category at the Yachts & Yachting Awards.

The British magazine ran the annual event and award ceremony, commending Team New Zealand's 7-1 victory over Oracle Team USA last year in Bermuda.

Team New Zealand beat France's Vendee Globe winner Armel Le Cleach, Ben Ainslie Racing's youth academy crew, Britain's new 49er stars Dylan Fletcher and Stu Bithell, and British offshore racing outfit Concise for the award.

They were praised as "plucky Kiwis who scarcely needed introduction" before replays of the team's performance were run.

"The New Zealanders managed to overcome budgetary problems, logistical challenges and a range of significant differences in opinion with both the then defender Oracle Team USA and the other challengers to win the America's Cup."

The Kiwis were praised for their ambitious use of "cycle-grinding". Photo / Getty

"It was clear from race one they were in another league and, for all the excitement of the regatta, it never looked likely anyone else would be drinking champagne from the Auld Mug come the end of proceedings."

The team's bold move to introduce the concept of cycle-grinding was described as an ambitious move to "throw the design ball as far away as possible".

"They were vastly superior to all other teams at the event, made up of some of the finest sailors and designers on the planet."

Team New Zealand recently landed the honours at the Yachting New Zealand Awards and are finalists in the team and favourite 2017 sporting event moment categories at the upcoming Halberg Awards.