Team New Zealand sent a warning shot to their rivals on day two of the second round-robin in the America's Cup qualifying series in Bermuda.

Already with just one loss after six races, the Kiwi syndicate showed exceptional performance in light and tricky conditions to claim a huge win over a British challenge which eventually decided to retire.

The dominant display came just before another impressive effort out on the Great Sound on Thursday (Friday NZ time), Jimmy Spithill and Oracle shaking off an early penalty to come-from-behind to beat Dean Barker and Team Japan.

EmiratesTeamNZ / YouTube The first light air challenge we have seen in this America's Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand were up against Land Rover BAR. The key moment was the first gybe at the first mark, the rest of the race was history....

New Zealand were slightly behind across the start line but had more speed and went ahead as the boats went past the first mark, forcing BAR into a very sloppy gybe that allowed the Kiwi boat to power away down the second leg.

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The advantage only stretched significantly for Team New Zealand from there as they displayed an impressive ability to foil in conditions ranging between just seven and 10 knots, just above the minimum requirement for racing of six knots.

GILLES MARTIN-RAGET /ACEA 2017 Team New Zealand power away on their foils during a dominant performance against BAR.

The Kiwi outfit were so far in front as they crossed the finish of the shortened course, Sir Ben Ainslie decided to retire from the race as the Brits battled up the fifth and second-to-last leg.

The multiple Olympic champion had earlier been heard voicing his frustrations and repeatedly asking "what happened" after the Kiwi boat had blown by them past the first mark.

The result took the Kiwi outfit, who were scheduled for races against Japan and France on Saturday, to six points and briefly level with Oracle.

GILLES MARTIN-RAGET /ACEA 2017 Japan held the lead for most of their race with Oracle, but were second-best at the finish.

However, the Cup holders soon reclaimed sole top position with an impressive win over Japan.

Barker outmanoeuvred longtime rival Spithill at the start, forcing a penalty on the US for late entry to the box, which left them almost dead in the water and well behind up the short first leg.

But Oracle soon began to peg that buffer back and stayed right in touch.

RICARDO PINTO/ ACEA 2017 France and Britain do battle in a close race to finish the day's action.

After being within 22 seconds at the fourth gate, the US syndicate made the decisive move with a split going down the fifth leg.

They quickly found much better breeze on the right-side of the course, soon finding themselves with a lead they would comfortably maintain for a 32 second victory.

There was some consolation for Barker, though, given Japan had earlier completely out-performed France to claim a commanding win.

With their superior boat speed and technique clearly evident from start to finish in the light air, the Japanese won the race by almost six minutes.

Both teams were late to the start line in the light conditions but it was Barker who controlled proceedings from the front position and got away first, rounding the opening mark with an early eight-second advantage.

A solidly-performing Japanese crew left the struggling French in their wake as the race continued, pulling away with each leg to cross a massive five minutes and 59 seconds before Groupama arrived at the finish.

There was also some good news to take from the day for the British, who bounced back from their thumping by Team New Zealand to secure a hard-fought win over the French.

BAR were ahead at mark one after Ainslie forced a penalty in the start box but the French were a good match for boat speed and soon hit the lead, which they still narrowly held by 15 seconds at the fourth and penultimate mark.

An exciting battle ensued up the final leg, the Brits making the split and finding enough breeze to sneak ahead at the final cross approaching the finish, eventually winning by 23 seconds as France were forced to make a late tack.

Today's results

Race 19: Japan beat France by 5m 59s

Race 20: NZ beat Britain (retired)

Race 21: USA beat Japan by 32s

Race 22: Britain beat France by 23s

America's Cup Qualifiers standings

USA 7 points

New Zealand 6

Britain 5

Japan 3

Sweden 2

France 2

Tomorrow's schedule

NZ v Japan

USA v Sweden

NZ v France

Japan v Sweden