New Zealand has won the Singapore leg of SailGP, their third win of the season.
New Zealand SailGP Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The victory moves Peter Burling's crew up to second in the standings and they're now the biggest treat to Australia winning their third straight title with three rounds remaining.
It was an impressive comeback by the New Zealanders who started the regatta with a four point penalty after colliding with another boat during practice.
They scored a second, third and second in fleet racing on the second day in Singapore and then won the final against Denmark and Australia.
For Burling it was a victory to savor.
"Coming into this weekend on the back of those penalty points and just seeing the way the team came together under a bit of adversity is super pleasing for us as a group.
"It's two from two against the Aussies now in the finals, we're more than happy to keep chipping away and now looking forward, we want to firstly try to make the top three which obviously this weekend helps out a lot with, and then to try to be in our best possible shape going into that final to win the season."
The next round is in Sydney, follwed by New Zealand on March 18th and then the Grand Final in San Francisco in May.
SINGAPORE SAIL GRAND PRIX FINAL STANDINGS //
1 // New Zealand // 8 points*
2 // Denmark // 9 points
3 // Australia// 8 points
4 // Switzerland // 7 points
5 // Great Britain // 6 points
6 // Canada // 5 points
7 // United States // 4 points
8 // France // 3 points
9 // Spain // 2 points
*New Zealand docked two points in championship standings for contact with United States in pre-race practice
SAILGP SEASON 3 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after eight events) //
1 // Australia // 68 points
2 // New Zealand // 59 points
3 // Great Britain // 54 points
4 // France // 53 points
5 // Denmark // 51 points
6 // Canada // 45 points
7 // United States // 43 points
8 // Spain // 24 points
9 // Switzerland // 23 points
