America's Cup World Series New York
America's Cup sailing returned to New York City for the first time in 96 years, drawing thousands of spectators to the waterfront on the Hudson River for the Louis Vuitton World Series regatta, May 7-8, 2016.
Emirates Team New Zealand went from last place to first in the winner-take-all third and final race winning the New York series on Sunday, May 8, taking the lead in the standings in the run up to sailing's most prestigious event -- the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda. New Zealand hopes to avenge their soul-crushing loss to Oracle Team USA in the 34th America's Cup on San Francisco Bay in 2013.
The regatta is the first World Series event in the U.S., which includes another in Chicago in June.
(L-R) Softbank Team Japan, Oracle Team USA, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Artemis Racing race past the Statue of Liberty during the America's Cup World Series sailing event, May 7, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
The last America's Cup in San Francisco in 2013 was won by Oracle Team USA. The race heralded the arrival of 72-foot high performance catamarans with an airplane-like wing for a sail.
The boats can hit speeds of more than 40 knots (46 mph), bringing a new level of daring and excitement to competitive sailing. The World Series events are taking place on 45 foot catamarans, which are less expensive and easier to transport than their 72 foot counteraparts.
An aerial view of Groupama Team France in the America's Cup World Series in New York City, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Six teams took part in the World Series on the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey, with five teams challenging the champion Team Oracle. The challengers are Emirates Team New Zealand, Artemis Racing from Sweden, Britain's Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing from Britain, SoftBank Team Japan and Groupama Team France.
Emirates Team New Zealand hopes to avenge themselves in the up-coming 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda, after suffering a soul-crushing loss to Oracle Team USA in the 34th America's Cup on San Francisco Bay in 2013.
America's Cup World Series
AC45F catamaran Land Rover BAR powers past Groupama Team France as they sail past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, May 7, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
The AC45F catamaran of Oracle Team USA sails past lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center tower before a race in the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York City, May 7, 2016.
Difficult weather conditions with rain and little wind combined to allow the boats to get only one race off on Saturday.
America's Cup World Series
An Oracle Team USA crew member rides the leeward pontoon during a race in the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York City, May 7, 2016.
The modern America's Cup World Series is high-octane adrenaline rush compared to the 1920 America's Cup, the last to be sailed off New York before it was moved to Newport, Rhode Island.
America's Cup World Series
AC45F catamarans compete during a series race in New York City, May 7, 2016.
The last time the America's Cup was in New York city it was sailed in big, classic yachts.
America's Cup World Series
Emirates Team New Zealand lifts out of the water during a race, May 8, 2016, on the Hudson River in New York City.
America's Cup World Series
Racing boats at the start the start of the America's Cup World Series on the Hudson River Sunday, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup boats have not raced in New York City since 1920.
America's Cup World Series
AAC45F racing sailboats Emirates Team New Zealand crosses tacks with SoftBank Team Japan with the Empire State Building in the background during race one of the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
35th America's Cup 2017 - Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series New York, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Emirates Team New Zealand and Britain's Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing compete in the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in New York City, May 8, 2016.
The last time the America's Cup was in New York city it was sailed in big, classic yachts. The America's Cup World Series is an extreme sport on water, sailed in space-age, 45-foot catamarans that, if there's enough wind, rise up on hydrofoils and skim across the tops of the waves.
America's Cup World Series
Oracle Team USA comes out of the water, making a turn in race two of the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Skipper Jimmy Spithill (R) drives AC45F sailboat Oracle Team USA during a race in the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 7, 2016.
The America's Cup belonged to the New York Yacht Club for 132 years, until Dennis Conner lost it to Australia off Newport in 1983.
America's Cup World Series
Land Rover BAR skippered by Ben Ainslie sails past the Statue of Liberty during a race in the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 7, 2016.
Team New Zealand holds a slim lead over two-time America's Cup champion Oracle Team USA and England's Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing.
America's Cup World Series
Racing boats during the third race of the America's Cup World Series on the Hudson River, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Skipper Jimmy Spithill drives the AC45F for Oracle Team USA a series race in New York City, May 7, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Members of Oracle Team USA look on prior to racing at the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 7, 2016.
The American-based crew won the final eight races to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in sports in the 2013 America's Cup held in San Francisco.
America's Cup World Series
Team USA comes out of the water with their foil visible, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
The crew of Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing from Britain maneuver during a race, May 8, 2016.
They finished in fifth place for the New York regatta, but are third overall in the series.
America's Cup World Series
Groupama Team France sails past Battery Park City, May 8, 2016. The crew came in third in the series.
America's Cup World Series
Emirates Team New Zealand charges towards the finish line in race three, on their way to winning the race and America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York City, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Emirates Team New Zealand, led by skipper Glenn Ashby, crashes into a wave on their way to winning race three and the overall America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York City, May 8, 2016.
Team New Zealand had a troubled last race, snagging the anchor line of a buoy at the start. A crewman, Blair Tuke got into the water to free the boat. In fifth place, they came from behind at 16-20 knots, taking advantage of the leading boats suffering from a lack of wind. Three of the boats, Land Rover BAR, Groupama Team France and SoftBank Team Japan, were penalized for getting swept across the course boundary by the current. Team New Zealand got a come-from-behind-win.
America's Cup World Series
Emirates Team New Zealand crosses the finish line to win race three, on their way to winning the America's Cup World Series sailing event in New York, May 8, 2016.
America's Cup World Series
Team Emirates New Zealand crew celebrates winning the America's Cup World Series on the Hudson River Sunday, May 8, 2016.
The team, back on U.S. waters for the first time since blowing a seven-race lead at match point against Oracle in the 2013 America's Cup, kept their lead in the current overall series. Only the helmsman Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, a trimmer, were on that losing 2013 team.
"We've got effectively a whole new-look team," skipper Glenn Ashby said. "There's no history there for a lot of the guys. We're very much really looking forward to making amends for being so close back in San Francisco. It's absolutely pedal to the metal at the moment to prepare for next year."
America's Cup World Series
Team Emirates crew celebrates winning the America's Cup World Series on the Hudson River, May 8, 2016.
"It's definitely awesome to be here," Team New Zealand skipper Glenn Ashby said in a phone interview with AP. "This is arguably one of the busiest cities in the world, and to sail in the ferry traffic and near the big buildings, the conditions will be shifty and interesting. As far as an iconic location to go sailing, we're very fortunate to be here. You have to pinch yourself, being from Down Under, to be sailing in front of the Statue of Liberty. It's pretty incredible."