Fletcher is on board Britain's high-tech AC75, which 'flies' above the waves on hydrofoils, thanks to a last minute call-up from Ben Ainslie to replace Giles Scott as his co-helm.

British co-helm Dylan Fletcher said he feared “someone might have been killed” had Ineos Britannia not taken evasive action during Sunday’s controversial loss to Luna Rossa, which allowed the Italians to draw level at 2-2 in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.

Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia have split the opening two races of the America’s Cup challengers final off Barcelona.

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

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 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,