Yachting: Team New Zealand through to the final

Team New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

Team New Zealand won through to the finals of the America's Cup world series regatta in Plymouth after beating Oracle Racing 5 2-1 today (sat NZT).

The team's opponent in the finals will be decided tonight when top seed Artemis Racing take on Team Korea in the second semifinal.

Team Korea beat current America's Cup holders Oracle 4 helmed by James Spithill and then Energy Team to advance to the second semifinal.

Team New Zealand faltered in their first semifinal race today in shifty breezes of 14-18 knots after leading until part-way through leg five.

Oracle 5, skippered by Russell Coutts, incurred two penalties in the pre-start, once for crossing the boundary and a second for a minor collision. On the fifth leg, Coutts picked up a wind shift on the right of the course and took the lead when he defended to the finish to win by 19 seconds.

Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Ray Davies, James Dagg and Winston Macfarlane came out firing in the second race, but Oracle 5 made the early pace.

Barker kept handy and attacked, took the lead on leg three and worked hard to extend, covering Coutts' every move and giving Oracle no opportunity to pass. At the finish, Barker was 39 seconds ahead.

Barker started the third and deciding race with a clear advantage, and led from start to finish. Oracle 5 continually attacked but couldn't break through and Team New Zealand opened up the gap thanks to some good breeze to win by 200m.