Sweden’s Team Artemis eliminated SoftBank Team Japan from the America’s Cup Challenger series on Friday to set up a showdown with Emirates Team New Zealand.
The Swedish boat, who at one point had trailed 3-1 to the Japanese in the best-of-nine series, produced a superb display on Bermuda’s Great Sound to clinch a 5-3 victory.
Artemis, skippered by Nathan Outteridge, will now battle it out against the New Zealand challenge to decide which team will advance to face defending champions Oracle Team USA.
Japan’s hopes were dealt a blow shortly before Friday’s race, when their boat struck an unidentified object causing damage to a wing.
The vessel however took its place on the start line and appeared to have shrugged off the setback after getting off to a flier.
The Japanese boat under Dean Barker was swiftly up onto its foils and pulled clear of Artemis on the first leg.
But Artemis and Outteridge were soon hunting them down, and the Swedes seized control when Outteridge’s overtaking manoeuvre allowed them to pull clear on the third leg after Japan tacked poorly.
The first three races of the Challenger final take place on Saturday.
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