(Reuters) - Emirates Team New Zealand became the official challengers to Oracle Team USA in the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda on Monday with a convincing 5-2 victory over Sweden's Artemis Racing.
New Zealand are looking to avenge their humbling defeat by the U.S. team in San Francisco in 2013 when they were on the losing end of one of the greatest ever sporting comebacks.
There were celebrations aboard the New Zealand catamaran after they crossed the line nearly a minute ahead of their opponents after an earlier race had to be abandoned when the wind dropped away and left both teams drifting.
For the second race the wind held and after getting the better of Sweden's skipper Nathan Outteridge at the start, New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling sailed superbly to take the win.
"The boat is going seriously fast... we feel we are in great shape to take on Oracle now," Burling told BT Sport from on board his 50-foot (15 metre) foiling catamaran.
(Reporting by Alexander Smith in London; Editing by Ken Ferris)
