The Kiwis beat arch rivals Australia and Phil Robertson’s Canada to top the leaderboard after two days of close-to-shore racing on Lake Michigan.

Despite pressure from Tom Slingsby’s crew, it was the Kiwis who commanded the winner-takes-all Final from the start, securing the best angle to Mark One and sneaking inside at the top gate.

The event-deciding match-up culminated in a slow motion drag race to the finish line, which ultimately saw Peter Burling’s crew sneak over the line to take an early lead atop the Championship rankings.