Italy won by four seconds over America's Cup rivals Britain, bringing the series to 2-2. The intense match took place in strong winds near Barcelona.

The Italians were forced to concede the win to the British earlier when they damaged their AC75 monohull foiling sail. They only managed to swap it out in time for the second race of that day.

Jimmy Spithill, co-helm of the America's Cup broadcast team after Italy's decisive win said: "It was a great one." He added that "we've seen two equally matched teams go head to head".

The AC75s reached speeds up to 55 knots and spray sprayed off the hydrofoils of the AC75s as they flew against the wind.

It was a hard one. "It was a great racing," said Britain's Ben Ainslie. His team had several protests overruled.

Dylan Fletcher, Ainslie’s co-helm, said over the communications system on board that the British were trying to force an Italian penalty during a leg.

The Louis Vuitton Cup first-to-7-winners race will continue on Monday, and the winners of the cup will be able to compete against New Zealand's holders for the America's Cup Trophy.

Another of the giant foiling AC75s capsized earlier, while testing in windy conditions. In a press release, the Swiss team who were knocked out from the challenger series said that their entire crew was safe.

The Swiss boat, with its hull lying low in the water while the pumps were working to empty it, was towed into port. (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Clare Fallon, and Alexander Smith)

(source: Reuters)