KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand moved to within one win of claiming the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series yachting final off Auckland today with their second success of the day over America's Cup holders Alinghi.
Down 1-0 overnight, Team NZ took race three by 33 seconds to go into a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five showdown.
Skipper Dean Barker and his crew produced a great start, controlling the Swiss in the pre-start manoeuvres.
Alinghi's American helmsman, Ed Baird, was unable to shake the cover, receiving a penalty for failing to keep clear during one turn and then decided to gybe away with just 20sec to go before the gun.
The upshot was that Team NZ already had an 80m advantage by the time Alinghi crossed the start line.
However, the Swiss, skippered by New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth, caught a windshift on the left to close the gap right up on the first beat, although Team NZ managed to pull away again to round the top mark half-a-minute ahead.
The margin remained much the same over the next two legs, but on the final run Team NZ allowed plenty of separation between the boats.
That gave Alinghi the chance to close to within 50m, but that was not enough for the Swiss, given they still had a penalty turn to complete.
- NZPA
