The new-look NZ team are in the medal hunt on the opening day of the Sail GP event in Italy on Sunday (NZ time).
Without Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, who have left the competition to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, New Zealand finished a challenging day in fifth, after their three races in Taranto.
Filling in for the Olympians, Swiss Arnaud Psarofaghis was handy at the helm, negotiating the light wind conditions competently alongside fellow replacements Australian James Wierzbowski and Kiwi Jason Saunders.
Those light conditions meant all crews were reduced from three to five sailors, further complicating matters for the makeshift NZ boat.
Psarofaghis ensured New Zealand got off to a great start in the opening race, eventually finishing third. They were last in the second race, rounding the day out with a fifth-place finish in the final race.
Jimmy Spithill led the US team to the top of the standings with two wins, while Nathan Outerrridge's Japan claimed the other to finish equal with the Americans on 21 points.
Spain sit third on 17 points, with France fourth on 13 points and New Zealand within range on 11 points.
On Monday, the teams will race twice more to determine the top three for the medal race.
