Toyota dockside in Bermuda: Martin Tasker - Why NZ fans should not count chickens

The New Zealand youth America's Cup sailing team were denied a series win in the last race. Photo / Gilles Martin Raget

Of all the weeks for Kiwi yachting fans not to be counting chickens this is it and today's turnover at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in Bermuda surely and sadly explains why.

A couple of poor results on the first day had left the NZL Sailing Team with something of a mountain to climb if they were to emulate their Kiwi counterparts who won the title in San Francisco four years ago.

That victorious team had Peter Burling at the helm, along with three other members of his current America's Cup crew - Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney and Guy Endean.

After a disappointing seventh and sixth, a second place in the third race on day one boosted confidence on the NZL team going into today's finals and the young Kiwis responded brilliantly.

Skipper Logan Dunning-Beck pulled off three cracking starts with perfect positioning and timing on the line. Sharp crew work had their AC 45 getting a jump on the fleet, popping onto its foils to sprint away for a remarkable trio of start to finish victories.

Flying at pace to the finish line a whopping three and a half minutes ahead, the crew, and the Kiwi supporters ashore, were already celebrating an astonishing three-bullet, clean-sweep comeback unaware of the drama unfolding behind them.

The British team, who'd gone into the final races topping the points table with a 2,2 and 1, had had a much less successful day and needed a second place finish in the last race if they were to take the title.

Heading into the last mark they were buried in fifth spot behind Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. But as they approached the turn the Swedes fouled the Germans who crashed into the buoy. The Swedes were penalised and had to park up and wait for the Germans to disentangle themselves.

Taking advantage of the confusion, the British boat moved swiftly up into third spot behind the Swiss who then copped a penalty. That left a sprint to the line in which the British held off the Spanish to secure second place and the title.

The commentators couldn't believe it: "Somehow, from a position in which they were dead and buried and the Kiwis were beginning to celebrate their Cup triumph, everything has conspired to bring the Cup to Great Britain."

The Kiwis left shell-shocked, a disappointed but philosophical skipper Logan Dunning Beck saying simply: "That's yachting."

While the youngsters were licking their wounds and settling for second, Emirates Team New Zealand were also out on the Great Sound, testing and tuning ahead of the resumption of the America's Cup match against Oracle on Saturday.

And back in the Cup village another familiar refrain was ringing in Kiwi ears; "It's not over till it's over."