Black Foils New Zealand smash it, lead every mark to win Group A's third race

The Black Foils have just produced one of the standout performances of the regatta. New Zealand led Group A's third race off Portsmouth from the very first mark and were never so much as threatened, cruising home to a dominant win. Northstar Canada recovered from an early penalty to take second, Bonds Flying Roos Australia held third, and Los Gallos Spain had their worst race of the day, dropping to sixth after a costly foul on Mubadala Brazil.

It's exactly the kind of statement result Kiwi fans will have been waiting for, a wire to wire win with the rest of the fleet never getting a look in, and a reminder that New Zealand arrived in Portsmouth as the defending champions of this event after winning here last year.

Better with every race, and a birthday to match

Fourth in the opening race, second in the next, and now the win, Peter Burling's crew have improved in every single race of the day. It was also wing trimmer Blair Tuke's birthday, and he and Burling kept things simple all the way to the finish to make it one to remember.

Burling was untouchable off the line again too, the Black Foils hitting 96km/h in the run to the first mark with no answer from the rest of the fleet.

A tight start, and an early penalty for Canada

The fleet was bunched hard through the opening leg, with all seven boats within five seconds of the lead at Mark 1 and Northstar Canada tucked in behind New Zealand for second. Moments later Canada were called for running wide of the course and picked up a 20 metre penalty, handing Rockwell Racing Denmark's Nicolai Sehested the chance to move through into second.

It didn't last. Canada served the penalty, steadied the boat and were back into a clear second by the third mark, a position they held for the rest of the race. Denmark, by contrast, couldn't make their gains stick and slipped back down the order over the closing legs.

Spain's race unravels

Spain's day went wrong at the second gate, where they were penalised for a port tack foul, failing to keep clear of Mubadala Brazil. Brazilian driver Martine Grael was praised on the broadcast for the way she handled the moment, threading through a tight passage that also briefly caught up Red Bull Italy, who were adjudged to have been clear. The penalty cost Spain close to 15 seconds and buried them in the back half of the fleet. They finished sixth, outside the points, after already having the worst possible start to the race.

Canada's recovery, and a big day for Giles Scott

Giles Scott's drive for Northstar Canada drew plenty of praise, recovering from that early penalty to finish second on the back of what commentators called three excellent starts across the day. Strategist Annie Haeger and coach Ian Williams came in for credit too, Canada again showing the calm, mistake-free sailing that's made them one of the most consistent boats in the group.

Australia's slow build to third

Bonds Flying Roos Australia were back of the fleet again early, but Tom Slingsby's crew worked patiently through the race, splitting away from the pack at the right moments to climb into third by the finish. It continues a pattern for Australia, who won three events in a row earlier in the season before Los Gallos Spain snapped that streak at the last event, and who now need a big finish in tomorrow's races to force their way back into contention.

Race 3 result, Group A

Where the group stands

After three races today, New Zealand's Black Foils sit in pole position for Super Sunday's final, one point clear of Northstar Canada. Only the top two from each group make the four boat final, and as things stand that would be New Zealand and Canada from Group A, with Los Gallos Spain and Bonds Flying Roos Australia on the outside looking in going into tomorrow's two remaining fleet races.

Group B's third race is up next.