Alinghi take stranglehold on America's Cup

Team New Zealand must win the remaining three races if they are to bring the America's Cup back home. Photo / Mark Mitchell

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Alinghi are just one win away from defending the America's Cup.

In another exhilarating race the Swiss came from behind to beat Team New Zealand this morning by 28 seconds.

They now lead the best of nine race series 4-2. Ernesto Bertarelli's Swiss syndicate have the opportunity to win the America's Cup tonight in race seven.

The Swiss trailed the Kiwis around the first lap of the course but a downspeed tack from the Kiwis on the second upwind beat allowed the Swiss to sail past.

Alinghi tactician and skipper Brad Butterworth's faith in the right paid off as Alinghi eased past and round the third mark 11 seconds ahead.

Team New Zealand clawed back on the final run coming within a couple of boat lengths of the Swiss. But the unflappable Swiss kept their composure and crossed the line ahead.

Once again little separated the two boats around the course. After Dean Barker got the better of him in race five, Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird upped his game this morning. The two charged across the line at pace, the Swiss to the right and the Kiwis to the left.

Little separated the two up the first beat but the Kiwis found some pressure on the left which allowed them to ease ahead. Rounding the top mark ahead the Kiwis defended like their lives depended on it on the first run.

They maintained their lead at the bottom mark, where the teams rounded different gates and set off strongly up the second beat. The lead change occurred well up the second beat when a slow tack from the Kiwis coincided with the Swiss getting a little more pressure. From there Alinghi's lead was never threatened

Team New Zealand mastman Matthew Mason said it was tough.

"It is tough in these conditions. The feeling is still good. It is far from over yet. I just said to the boys Australia when they won in Newport were 3-1 down and we know what happened there. We are not going to lie down that is for sure."

Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup and desktoptv.co.nz