SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Skipper Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand completed a pair of near-flawless races Wednesday, overpowering Italy’s Luna Rossa to take a 4-1 lead in the Louis Vuitton Cup finals.
In the first races of the series without a mechanical failure, Emirates looked every bit like the boat to beat on sparkling San Francisco Bay. Barker guided the Kiwis ahead by the first mark both times, leaving the Luna Rossa crew and its silver sailing gear glistening from behind the rest of the way.
Emirates won the first race by 2 minutes, 18 seconds and the second race by 1:28.
The winner of the best-of-13 series will face defending champion Oracle Team USA in the 34th America’s Cup starting Sept. 7.
