Team New Zealand are one win away from a rematch with Alinghi in the America's Cup after they secured their fourth consecutive win over Luna Rossa in Valencia this morning winning by a comfortable margin.
The syndicate can now win the best of nine race series tonight.
Inlight, fickle conditions the Kiwis faith in the left paid off on the first upwind leg which is what won them the match.
Entering from the port side, James Spithill crossed in front of Team New Zealand nullifying their starboard advantage. In a split tack start Team New Zealand headed out to the left, Luna Rossa to the right.
Team New Zealand held an early advantage, however the Italians nabbed a right hand shift and were well ahead at the first cross. They opted to protect the right - a decision which proved to be their downfall as a little further up the beat the left came through for Team New Zealand.
The Kiwis rounded the first mark 19 seconds. They extended to 54 seconds at the gate and a minute at the weather mark before winning by 52 seconds.
Again the New Zealand boat clearly looked quicker in the lighter air.
"You'd need a lot of time to get enough data but it seems like we have a bit of an edge in that softer stuff," said Team New Zealand strategist Ray Davies.
Luna Rossa tactician Torben Grael said his team got what they wanted at the start.
"We had a big separation with the nice shift but only managed to get a small lead. They had little separation with a big shift and they managed to get bigger cushion on it. It is quite disappointing," he said.
"Obviously they are sailing pretty well."
When asked if his team's boat was lacking a bit of speed in light conditions, Grael said it was hard to say.
"We are not slow, but we are not a rocket. Certainly tacking the boat it doesn't like that too much in the light stuff. We are hoping for better conditions tomorrow."
Luna Rossa's mainsail trimmer Jonathan McKee said his team might make a technical change going into race five. A do or die match for them.
He said: "They [Team New Zealand] are going well. Especially in that wind range. They have always been fast in that wind range. We seem to be a little more competitive in more wind."
Now on match point, Team NZ strategist Ray Davies said his team couldn't have wished to have been in a better position.
"To be 4-0 up, everything is going well within the team," he said. "We couldn't go into tomorrow any better prepared right across the board."
* Alinghi had a hit out with Desafio Espanol yesterday. It is understood that the teams did four prestarts. Karol Jablonski, who was sailing with a random Spanish crew, won 3 and Alinghi's Ed Baird 1.
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Blog: Julie Ash and Peter Lester
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