America’s Cup 2024: Great Britain beat New Zealand in races five and six – as it happened

Ineos Britannia have hit back by beating Emirates Team New Zealand in the fifth race. Photograph: Bernat Armangué/AP

3.29pm BST

Here’s Andy Bull’s report from Barcelona.

3.01pm BST

Here’s Reuters’ short take:

Britain won a second race in their head-to-head America’s Cup final against New Zealand on Wednesday, reducing the holders’ lead to 4-2 in the first-to-seven points series.

The British crew skippered by Ben Ainslie outmanoeuvred the New Zealand crew led by Peter Burling in the final moments of the crucial pre-start and shot across the line in their foiling AC75 to establish an early lead in the day’s second race.

Britain led around the first mark and were able to stay ahead in all of the eight legs, hitting speeds of more than 35 knots as they navigated a churned-up sea and held off a late New Zealand challenge at the finish.

Double 'W' Day for Britannia 🚀

We race again Friday 👊#AmericasCup pic.twitter.com/KwtRWuHCsb

— INEOS Britannia (@ineosbritannia) October 16, 2024

Updated at 3.04pm BST