Britain took the fight to Italy in their battle to become the challenger for the America's Cup on Wednesday, grinding out a win in a close-quarters contest to take a 5-4 series lead. With both AC75 'foiling' boats bouncing around in choppy seas off Barcelona,

Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli surprised its rivals at the last America's Cup by showing up with two helmsmen to steer its foiling yachts.

Britain and Italy fought out two closely-contested races on Monday in the America's Cup challenger series, leaving the first-to-seven event finely poised at 3-3 as they bid to take on defenders New Zealand for the 'Auld Mug'.

Britain piled the pressure on Italy in their fight to be challenger for the America's Cup, clinching two tight races on Wednesday in "knife edge" sea conditions to go within one point of winning the first-to-seven Louis Vuitton Cup series.

Ineos Britannia finally broke the deadlock in their nail biting Louis Vuitton Cup final against Italians Luna Rossa, winning both races on Wednesday to move to “match point” at 6-4 up in the first-to-seven challenger series.

Italy recovered from a high-speed nosedive in their first race against Britain on Tuesday, bouncing back in strong winds in the second to level the series in what both teams are framing as a "fight" to become the America's Cup challenger.