Team New Zealand are one win away from claiming the 34th America’s Cup after winning race 11 by 15 seconds on San Francisco Bay to take a 8-1 lead over Oracle.
The challengers could wrest the cup from holders Oracle in race 12 due to be staged later on Thursday.
Skipper Dean Barker set up Team NZ to dominate the race after out-foxing opposite James Spithill in the pre-race phase.
They crossed the start line well ahead of Oracle and at better speed, allowing them to open up a 3sec lead at the first mark and they were never headed.
The margin was 5sec at the second mark and 17sec after the long third leg upwind.
Oracle made gains on the fourth leg but a slow rounding of the fourth mark meant they were still 18sec down, allowing Team NZ to coast home.
The American defenders must win the next eight races if they are to prevent Team NZ from winning the Auld Mug for the first time since it lost to Swiss syndicate Alinghi in 2003.
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