‘Best ever’ New Zealand beat Britain to defend America’s Cup

BARCELONA: The jubilant crew of Emirates Team New Zealand sprayed each other with champagne after completing a commanding 7-2 victory over Ineos Britannia on Saturday to defend the America´s Cup.

The dominant Kiwis lifted the world´s oldest international sporting trophy for the third consecutive time after beating their British opponents by 37 seconds in the ninth race off Barcelona to end the best-of-13 series.

New Zealand raced into a 4-0 lead in the 37th edition of the competition before Britain fought back with two victories on Wednesday.

However the defenders responded with three points in a row to clinch a third straight victory after their successes in 2017 and 2021, the country´s fifth triumph in the competition.

“What an amazing feeling, it´s been a tough battle all week, but an amazing scoreline and I´m proud of the way the team kept battling today,” said Kiwi helmsman Peter Burling.

“It´s still just sinking in... what an awesome day, Barcelona´s just been absolutely amazing, what an amazing feeling.”

The Kiwis´ AC75 foiling boat, named Taihoro -- a Maori language word meaning ´to move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth´ -- was towed back to harbour with a flotilla escort as celebrations began in earnest.

They raised a huge flag thanking host city Barcelona, with hundreds of fans scrambling for a sight of the victors coming back in to the port.

New Zealand are the first nation to lift the trophy in three consecutive editions since the United States in 1987, 1988 and 1992.