New Zealand are on course for the Sail Grand Prix grand final race, despite a lucklustre opening day at San Francisco.
Only Australia are guaranteed a spot in the three-way shootout, with Great Britain and France posing as NZ's biggest threat to qualifying.
Peter Burling's team saved their best of the last on the opening day to help them to third place on the San Francisco points board.
The Kiwis struggled in the first two races, finishing fourth and seventh, with Australia and more importantly, Great Britain triumphant.
A much-improved showing in the day's final race saw NZ finish third, only behind Australia and Great Britain once more.
While Great Britain's form should cause some concern, NZ's chances of progressing through to the final have been boosted by France's misery.
France, who trail New Zealand by four points on the season's overall board, had a day to forget, finishing eighth over the course of the three races.
They will race two more times Monday to determine the top three teams, before the US$1 million winner-takes-all grand final.
