Team New Zealand have made a dreadful start to the final America's Cup World Series event of the season, capsizing during their first quarterfinal match race against Luna Rossa at Newport, Rhode Island.

The wingsail has been damaged but the crew sustained no injury, and Team New Zealand are frantically trying to get back on the water for the second of four days of racing, tomorrow.

''We are assessing the damage to see what we can repair or replace,'' skipper Dean Barker said.

''We might need to borrow some parts.''

The team was sailing today without two key members, bowman Winston Macfarlane and trimmer James Dagg who have been injured. Replacement crew were flown from Auckland to fill the gaps.

Team New Zealand were four points behind Oracle Team Spithill in the overall standings and needed a good showing in Newport to take out the title.

Spithill is through to the match race semifinals after a 2-1 win against Team Korea, and will take on Artemis in the final four. Luna Rossa, 2-0 victors over Team New Zealand, will face Oracle Team Coutts.

Team New Zealand were early leaders in the competition but have been overtaken by Spithill in the second half of the season.

- © Fairfax NZ News