America's Cup Update BUT WE STILL LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Team New Zealand's chances of winning the America's Cup now hang by a thread after Alinghi won race six in the regatta this morning. Barker felt 'robbed' after fourth loss ... View race day action

The Swiss now lead the best-of-nine series 4-2 and will etch their name on the auld mug if they win tomorrow's match-point race. The final delta was 28 seconds.

The luckless New Zealanders were in good company.

The All Blacks capped a bleak night for Kiwi sportsmen losing to the Wallabies in Melbourne a few hours before Team New Zealand was defeated.

Thousands of Kiwi fans in Spain watched the rugby in bars before flooding into the cup village on a baking hot day hoping for a victory to continue the party.

And for large parts of the race they had reason to be optimistic. Wind conditions - an 8-9 knot sea breeze from the south east - suited Team New Zealand.

And the Dean Barker skippered NZL92 led much of race six and were looking destined to square the series.
Their crew work was flawless, banishing memories of yesterday's problems when they burst a spinnaker.
But the defining moment came on the second beat when Alinghi skipper and tactician Brad Butterworth - one of six Kiwis on board the Swiss boat - engineered a slick passing move.

He slid past the starboard side of the Kiwi boat after initiating a tacking duel.

It reversed a 14 second deficit at mark one and 11 second deficit at mark two to round mark three 16 seconds ahead. And it was a lead he never relinquished.

Team New Zealand are now running out of options. Crew changes are extremely unlikely.

Team boss Grant Dalton, who sailed again last night, ruled them out earlier in the regatta, if such a scenario unfolded.

However, the team was forced to make one change for race six.

Team New Zealand was forced to make a late crew change in the speed loop of the boat.

Veteran trimmer Grant Loretz succumbed to sickness and Rob Salthouse was chosen as his replacement. Salthouse first sailed with Team New Zealand in 1987 and was a more than adequate replacement. But it was an unsettling change for the crew.

Alinghi gained a slight edge in the pre-start. They pinned Team New Zealand in the dial-up forcing Dean Barker to tack away and then execute a high-risk pass over SUI100's bow.

Alinghi protested vigorously to no avail. However, the Swiss were able to secure the right side of the course and both boats immediately engaged in a close gauge drag race to the the port layline.

Alinghi was able to survive on Team New Zealand's hip in the windward position. But eventually the Kiwis were able to nose ahead before reaching forcing Alinghi to tack away in search of clean air.

The split was the first defining moment of the race. Team New Zealand tacked back and a left hand shift, while boat boats were separated, filled the Kiwi sails and they surged ahead just before the top mark.

Alinghi rounded the mark 14 seconds behind, setting up a fascinating first down wind run.

Team New Zealand has been dogged with spinnaker problems in recent races. But they managed to sail a flawless beat, defending their lead to round the bottom gate 11 seconds ahead.

Alinghi rounded the left gate, the Kiwis the right, forcing a large separation. But Team New Zealand held a one and a half boat-length lead. Alinghi initiated a tacking duel on the second beat and Team New Zealand responded to the pressure, covering them expertly in the leeward position.

However, Butterworth found some extra pressure on his side of the course and cruised past Team New Zealand's starboard side.

Despite gybing left and right, the Swiss were unmoved and held their nerve to the finish line eventually winning race six by 28 seconds.

Article courtesy of - http://www.stuff.co.nz/