Team New Zealand's impressive form in the Louis Vuitton Challengers series continued on Saturday with a 51-second win over Team Japan before ending the French challenge in their second outing.
Helmsmen Peter Burling out-maneuvererd Japan skipper Dean Barker at the start ensuring the Kiwi boat was flying off the line and the New Zealanders were never headed.
The Kiwi crew were able to cover off any aggressive moves by Japan and they extended their lead at every mark.
It was an all-but perfect performance from Team New Zealand, spending 99.6 percent of the race foiling, finally dipping the bows into the water right on the finish line.
The Kiwis hit the water again 30 minutes later against the struggling French crew in a race that was never in doubt.
Burling was sharp again at the start, blitzing Team France off the line and building an enormous lead throughout the seven-leg race.
Team New Zealand topped their opening race win, achieving 100 percent 'fly-time', spending the entire race distance foiling.
The loss eliminated France, meaning Japan, Sweden, Great Britain and New Zealand will contest the semi-finals.
With Artemis completing a comfortable win over Oracle Team USA in the day's second race, it now means New Zealand has a chance to top the qualifiers if they can beat the Cup holders on Sunday (NZT).
That would ensure the Kiwis take a bonus point into the America's Cup final against Jimmy Spithill and his crew, if they can get through the challenger playoffs.
Team NZ are guaranteed to be the top-qualifying challengers to for those semi- finals, meaning they will get to choose their opponents for that phase.
Standings: Team NZ 8 wins 1 loss (8 points), Team USA 6-2 (7), British BAR 3-5 (5), Team Sweden 4-5 (4), Team Japan 3-6 (3), Team France 2-7 (2).
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