Reuters
America's Cup challenger Emirates Team New Zealand douses the spinnaker during race six against defender Alinghi of Switzerland at the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia yesterday. Alinghi won to take a 4-2 lead in the best-of-nine series.

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters):

ALINGHI FOUGHT back from behind to beat Team New Zealand and take their lead in the America's Cup to 4-2 yesterday, putting them just one win away from defending sailing's most coveted prize.

The Swiss syndicate thrashed New Zealand in 2003 to become the first European team to win the America's Cup in its 156-year history and they are desperate to add a successful defence to the record books.

As Alinghi neared the finishing line, syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli punched the air and shook hands with his crew.

"We only have one to go, but it's going to be as hard as all the others," Bertarelli told reporters after the race.

"I certainly prefer to be in my position than in Team New Zealand's but every race so far has been fought to the last gybe so I wouldn't take anything for granted."

New Zealand came out fighting yesterday, desperate to put Friday's nasty spinnaker rip behind them and level the best-of-nine series again.

Penalty denied

The aggression was high as they faced off with Alinghi in the pre-start and then gybed right in front of them as all the Alinghi crew threw their hands in the air and skipper Brad Butterworth appealed. The penalty was denied.

The boats crossed the starting line simultaneously and made their way up the first beat within metres of each other until Alinghi bailed out and New Zealand took advantage of a wind shift that blew them round the mark 14 seconds ahead.

The New Zealanders kept the edge as the breeze dropped off downwind but Alinghi took back control as they turned the harder leeward mark faultlessly, forced New Zealand to tack across to join them and engaged in a tacking duel.

They won and never let the lead go again, crossing the line 28 seconds ahead.

The 32nd America's Cup has been the most exciting in recent history as one nail-biting race after another has smashed a losing-streak jinx and the usual trend that whoever leads at the first mark will win the race.

The teams meet for what could be the final race today and the New Zealanders will be sure to come out fighting.

"There were some shakes of the head for sure but the feeling's still good and it's far from over here," said Team New Zealand mastman Matt Mason.