Team New Zealand could manage only fourth place in the final fleet race of the America's Cup world series regatta in Venice, but it was enough to retain second overall.
Light winds ruled on the final day of the regatta, with winners Energy needing almost an hour to complete a race scheduled for 35 minutes.
Five yachts failed to finish within 10 minutes of the winner and were awarded no points for their efforts in what was the most intense race of the regatta.
Team New Zealand, which started well and rounded the first mark in the lead, could have been one of them but managed a narrow escape from a traffic jam near the second mark.
There, a jumble of bunched yachts searched desperately for some kind of air as the wind dropped to 1-2 knots. Several contacts occurred when the yachts stalled and crews had to fend off rivals, with all of the fleet trapped bar Energy and Oracle 4 who both somehow managed to miss the melee.
They streaked away to finish first and second respectively, with Artemis third and Team New Zealand next across the line.
After five regattas in the world series championship, Team New Zealand on 80 points is second overall, four points adrift of Oracle 4.
America's Cup world series championship leader board after five regattas:
Oracle 4: 38 match points, 46 fleet points, total 84
Team New Zealand: 36, 44, 80
Artemis Racing: 43, 28, 71
Energy Team: 32, 33, 65
Team Korea: 30, 26, 56
Oracle 5: 29, 24, 53
Luna Rossa Piranha*: 18, 16, 34
China Team:15, 16, 31
Luna Rossa Swordfish*: 11, 10, 21
*Competed in three of five regattas
