New Zealand have finished second overall in Sail GP's third season, after almost spoiling Australia's party in Monday's (NZ time) grand final in San Francisco.
After a slow start to the winner-takes-all race - which also included Great Britain - New Zealand made huge inroads on the fourth leg, as they split away from the rival boats downwind.
They tried the same maneuver down at the bottom mark, when Australia - still leading comfortably - fell off their foils to give their competitors hope.
But skipper Tom Slingsby managed to right the ship, as they held off the charging Kiwis in the final sprint to the finish line to claim their third straight title and the $US1 million prize.
"I thought we lost it," said relieved Slingsby after the race.
"That was not in the plan - I was very scared. I thought it could be the biggest choke of all time, but fortunately we were able to get it over the line."
New Zealand qualified for the final with a measured effort in Monday's earlier fleet races, as they seemed content to save themselves for the showpiece event.
But Slingsby's team - as they been all season - were exceptionally quick in their F50 catamaran, earning a deserved third title to continue their dominance of the new global sailing league.
The result is an improvement for Bulring and his team, who have improved considerably on their fifth-place finish from their maiden campaign, winning three regattas to Australia's four.
The next season begins in Chicago in June, with Auckland to host its first event in March.
