Team NZ one win from Alinghi clash

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VALENCIA, Spain -- Team New Zealand are one win away from challenging Alinghi for the America's Cup after maintaining their domination of Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup final fourth leg on Tuesday.

This lopsided contest which New Zealand won by 52 seconds left the Kiwis 4-0 up and in complete control of the first to five series.

Comebacks are not unheard of in this arena but never from the position skipper James Spithill and the rest of the struggling ITA 94 crew now find themselves.

"It feels pretty positive in the camp," said Kiwi strategist Ray Davies. "But we can't rule out anything in these fickle conditions, both teams made mistakes today."

Luna Rossa's Brazilian strategist Torben Grael put ITA 94's lackluster showing down in part to the light winds.

"Our boat isn't slow but it's not a rocket. It doesn't like tacking in the light stuff, we're hoping for a change in the wind tomorrow.

"But let's congratulate Team New Zealand for sailing well."

Given their predicament, taking the pre-start was critical for Luna Rossa but honors were shared with both boats crossing the start together -- New Zealand on the left and ITA 94 on the right.

In light conditions with the frail sea breeze hovering around eight knots Luna Rossa conceded ground with the first tack to allow NZL 92 to get her bow 40m plus in front.

The Italians then picked up a helpful shift of breeze to push clear -- by 100m at one point -- in the all important push to mark one.

The Kiwis, for the first time in the final, found themselves with a view of Luna Rossa's stern but skipper Dean Barker tacked and swung the pendulum back in NZL 92's favor.

They kept the upper hand to pass the mark 19 seconds up or about two and a half boat lengths and keep their perfect record of leading the Italians round each mark of the final so far.

Asserting control NZL 92 showed as they have throughout the series that they have the speedier boat, rounding marks two and three with deltas of 54sec and 1min.

More of the same on Wednesday will see the Kiwis victorious and with their ticket safely booked to challenge Alinghi for the 32nd America's Cup from June 23.

A flick through the history books may offer some crumb of comfort to Luna Rossa, who had come into this final full of confidence after their 5-1 trouncing of BMW Oracle in the semifinals.

Back in 1983 Australia II fell 3-1 behind Dennis Connor's American boat only to fight back to prevail 4-3.

And in 1992 Italy's Il Moro di Venezia team were trailing 4-1 to the Kiwis in the Louis Vuitton Cup.

That deficit was cut to 3-1 after the jury upheld a protest from Italy skipper Paul Cayard against New Zealand for illegal use of their bowsprit.

Cayard's team then won the next four races to take the Cup 5-3 and book their place in the America's Cup.

Spithill will not need reminding that no team has over lived to tell the tale after going 4-0 behind.

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