Artemis Racing produced their best day of the regatta for when it was needed most, as they saved themselves from the prospect of a sudden-death eliminator against Groupama Team France with commanding wins over Oracle Team USA and SoftBank Team Japan yesterday.

The Swedish team had come into the America’s Cup as many people’s tip to win it after showing dominant form during practice racing on the Great Sound. But since racing began for real this week, Artemis have been struggling and it was only yesterday that they finally booked their place in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Play-offs, which begin tomorrow, at the expense of France.

Had Artemis lost both of their matches yesterday, they would have faced a final-day decider against the French today for the last place in the play-off semi-finals. That race will be a dead rubber now, with just pride at stake.

“Today was very important for our team,” Nathan Outteridge, Artemis’s Australian skipper, said. “It’s been a pretty tough racing period here for us so far and today really showed what the team is made of. “We had two days off and were able to make a few tweaks on the boats, and made some good improvements in performance and the way the guys sailed the boat. I was pleased with that.

“We know we have a long way to go; all in all, it was a good boost for the team and nice to get the points and know we are moving through.”

Artemis found their form to beat Oracle, meaning that France’s defeat by Emirates Team New Zealand condemned the French to finish in last place in the Qualifiers. France could not get close to the dominant Kiwis, though, and with the pressure lifted from their shoulders, Artemis beat Japan in the day’s final race as well.

France had always looked the weakest team in Bermuda, the most recent to be formed with a fraction of the budget of their rivals. But they exceeded expectations with victories over Artemis and Land Rover BAR in the first round-robin series.

“Today was expected from us against Team NZ,” Franck Cammas, the France skipper, said. “It was very hard to fight with them, they sail very fast and very well. We did a good job with the crew, we are happy and proud about that and our progression. Tomorrow we want to enjoy the last race. We fight against the Swedish and hope it will be a good race for us.

“Two years ago we were nothing; now we are in the game. Sometimes we can compete with the best teams.

“With not a lot of money and not a lot of time, we did a very good job.”