Kiwis continue mastery at America's Cup

Team New Zealand completed a sweep of five America's Cup round-robin challenger races against Luna Rossa on Sunday, defeating the Italian boat by three minutes and 21 seconds. The Kiwi crew had already clinched a points victory in the round-robin series against Luna Rossa and the idled Swedish entry Artemis and will now face one of them in the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger final next month. It was only the fourth race involving two boats, all of them won by Team New Zealand over Luna Rossa. The Italians forfeited one race to the Kiwis and Artemis, stunned in May by a training crash that killed crewman Andrew Simpson and destroyed their first AC72 catamaran, are working to have their boat ready to debut next month against Luna Rossa in hope of reaching the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger final. The winners of the challenger final will face defenders Oracle Team USA in the America's Cup finals in September. On a seven-leg course over 15.27 nautical miles, Team New Zealand led by seven seconds at the first turn and 35 seconds at the second mark. The Kiwis added a minute to their lead by the third turn and won in 45:05. Team New Zealand confirmed after the race that it would take its position in the challenger final rather than opt to race a hand-picked rival in the semi-final round, an option allowed under the regatta's rules. Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker also said the crew would not sail Tuesday in what was to be its last scheduled round-robin appearance, opting for more time to work upon the boat rather than sail alone again with Artemis out. From: AFP