The Emirates Team New Zealand were tied joint first at the end of Flight One of Act VI of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup in Malmo-Skane, Sweden on Thursday.
With moderate Southerly breezes providing an ideal setting for the 12 teams, Emirates Team New Zealand won both their flights.
Emirates Team New Zealand had the best of starts when they dispatched off United Internet Team Germany in their first flight.
In the second flight, Emirates Team New Zealand had a fright, rounding the leeward gate, in their match against China Team.
A broken spinnaker pole led to the sail falling into the water and the boat nearly stopped.
China Team threatened to overtake the Kiwis, but the Emirates squad recovered just in time to win. Meanwhile, defenders of the America's Cup, Alinghi, overcame local favourites Victory Challenge.
With Jochen Schuemann at the helm for the first time in competition, the defender started well against Sweden's Magnus Holmberg. The most important incident concerned the +39 Challenge when two crew members, Giuseppe Leonardi and Anthony Nossiter, were swept into the water as they tried to hold a spinnaker down on the deck when the wind began to blow it out of the sail bag. The sailors were plucked out of the water by the nearest umpire boat.
Results
(Flight One) Luna Rossa bt China Team; Desafío Espanol bt Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (retired with equipment problems); K-Challenge bt +39; BMW Oracle bt Shosholoza.
(Flight Two) Victory Challenge bt K-Challenge; BMW Oracle bt +39.
