RR2, Race 8: Emirates Team New Zealand bt SoftBank Team Japan by 0:51

The judge says 99.6 per cent foiling, but we say 100 per cent through the finish gate. An amazing race for Emirates Team New Zealand.

The wind is up today. Measured from Morgan’s Point at the south end of the Great Sound, it is ranging from six to 11 knots from the south-southwest (230 degrees).

New Zealand and Japan in the pre-start. Japan came in for the hook at 44 knots, but the Kiwis hit the start at 33 knots. They are up on a 41-knot screaming reach and build a three-second lead at the first mark, opening a 60-metre gap.

Japan follows New Zealand around mark two. When Japan tack, New Zealand cover. Team Japan had a bad, wet tack and lost more ground. The Kiwis tacked well and gained up to 23 seconds at the upwind mark.

New Zealand just seem to be doing everything well — light air on Thursday and a breeze today. Their 330-metre lead is huge. Add another four seconds to their clock at the leeward mark.

New Zealand led by 52 seconds at mark five and still have yet to splash.

RR2, Race 9: Artemis Racing bt Oracle Team USA by 0:24

Artemis Racing were up against the wall with two points going into this critical race.

The boats approached the start line a little early. Artemis were ahead but slowed to burn off speed. They appeared to have to avoid Oracle overrunning them from behind and pressed the penalty button. Artemis put down the pedal and extended to a three-boat-length lead crossing the line.

No penalty was assessed, maybe because the lead was already more than two boat lengths.

USA had gone back to the shed for some quick repairs to a broken rudder just before the race. They were late coming into the box and were not stable in the pre-start at all.

On leg three, Oracle looked to close the lead, but the boundary forced them to tack early before they could lay the mark. They had to tack twice and fell 270 metres behind.

Downwind, Oracle seemed to be a little wobbly, wiggling up and down, and not too stable here, either. Wind shifts were not as significant as Thursday, nor the races earlier in the week.

On leg five, the Swedes were still 245 metres ahead. The average wind speed has been 15.7 knots. Oracle were 19 seconds behind at the gate.

They are sailing straight down the course and nothing much they can do. Artemis hit 41 knots over the finish line and hand Oracle Team USA their second loss.

Oracle had no passing lanes today because Artemis sailed fast and smart.

RR2, Race 10: Emirates Team New Zealand bt Groupama Team France by 4:06

Groupama Team France had to win this race to stay alive but they were off the pace just at the start.

Team New Zealand controlled the start and Team France had trouble foiling in these bright breezes.

New Zealand were doing 36 knots across the start and Team France were at 24 knots.

Adam Minoprio, a member of the French team, said Team France could hold their heads high because of the big gains they had made in such a short time. Winning the America’s Cup certainly takes time on the water and it also takes a good budget. But for competition in Bermuda, it’s 14 knots and flat water. What more could the sailors ask for?

Peter Burling, New Zealand helmsman, certainly has his head out of the boat and knows exactly where he wants to be on the course.

The Kiwis tacked and gybed quickly in light air on Thursday and then in this heavier air they are also tacking and gybing more quickly than the other boats. There is something special here — not only about their design but also about their technique.

New Zealand win. Hats off to Groupama Team France, for sure.

How can you beat 100 per cent foiling by the New Zealand flyer? It’s Kiwi magic all over again.

RR2, Race 11: Artemis Racing bt SoftBank Team Japan by 0:18

Artemis Racing took the lead at the start and kept it all around the track.

It was Dean Barker and SoftBank Team Japan’s second weak start on the day. They just couldn’t find any passing lanes at all, as Nathan Outteridge used classic cover upwind and down.

Artemis led by seven seconds at the first leeward mark.

The upwind leg favoured a long starboard, but the leg turned into a tacking duel. Artemis dumped bad air back on Japan and opened up the lead to about 90 metres — basic match-racing tactics.

The race was still close with only a nine-second delta at gate four on to the upwind leg five. Japan were closing up but hit Artemis’s bad air again. The wind shifted to the right, as Artemis tacked to cover Team Japan.

No gain for Team Japan and nowhere to get it.

The distance had closed to 40 metres. But Artemis tacked on the lay line and doubled their lead to 15 seconds at the mark. Artemis got to the higher, downwind speed lane first and extended their lead to about 225 metres by the time Team Japan headed downwind around the mark.

Outteridge and Co rounded the last gate doing some 40 knots to charge to the finish with their second win of the day, handing Japan their second loss.