Britannia scores first point of America’s Cup final, trails New Zealand 4-1

INEOS Britannia got the break it needed and won its first race over Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup finals on Wednesday.

The British still trail 4-1 in the first-to-seven series. Race 6 is later.

New Zealand’s Taihoro fell of its foils in the pre-start buildup and was left flailing while Britannia buzzed them twice before taking a huge advantage. Winds just above the 6.5-knot minimum made just keeping the 75-foot monohulls on their foils key.

When Britannia crossed the line New Zealand was almost 1,200 meters behind.

New Zealand had sailed flawlessly to sweep the first four races held in view of the Barcelona beachfront.

New Zealand is trying to win the Auld Mug, the oldest trophy in international sport, for a third straight time and fifth overall. The British have never won it in its 173-year history and are in their first final in six decades.