Team New Zealand are just one win away from challenging Alinghi for the America's Cup after maintaining their domination of Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup final fourth leg on Tuesday.

This lopsided contest which New Zealand won by 52 seconds left the Kiwis 4-0 up and in complete control of the first to five series.

"It feels pretty positive in the camp," said Kiwi strategist Ray Davies. "But we can't rule out anything in these fickle conditions, both teams made mistakes today."

Luna Rossa's Brazilian strategist Torben Grael put ITA 94's lacklustre showing down in part to the light winds.

"Our boat isn't slow but it's not a rocket. It doesn't like tacking in the light stuff, we're hoping for a change in the wind tomorrow. But let's congratulate Team New Zealand for sailing well."

Comebacks are not unheard of in this arena but never from the position Luna rossa helmsman James Spithill and the rest of his struggling crew now find themselves.

And with the door closing fast on their Cup campaign ITA 94's mainsail trimmer Jonathan McKee accepted there wasn't a great deal they could do to upset the Kiwis' march up the aisle to find their Swiss suitor in the shape of Alinghi.

"If there'd been anything obvious we would have tried it already," he said. "I'm not ruling out we might make a technical change, that's a possibility.

"But for sure they're going well, especially in this wind range - they've always been fast in it so that's no surprise to us. Hats off to them, they've outsailed us so far in the series, that's all you can say."

Given their predicament taking the pre-start was critical for Luna Rossa but honours were shared with both boats crossing the start together, New Zealand on the left and ITA 94 on the right.

In light conditions with the frail sea breeze hovering around eight knots Luna Rossa conceded ground with the first tack to allow NZL 92 to get her bow 40m plus in front.

With a country mile the width separating the two finalists the Italians then picked up a helpful shift of breeze to push clear, by 100m at one point, in the all important push to mark one.

The Kiwis, for the first time in the final, found themselves with a view of Luna Rossa's stern but skipper Dean Barker tacked and swung the pendulum back in NZL 92's favour.

And the dual America's Cup winners kept the upper hand to pass the mark 19sec up or about two and a half boat lengths and keep their perfect record of leading the Italians round each mark of the final so far.

More of the same on Wednesday will see the Kiwis victorious and with their ticket safely booked to challenge Alinghi for the 32nd America's Cup on June 23.

When asked how Luna Rossa would approach Wednesday's race McKee said: "First of all let's hope it's not the last chance, we're not going to go out there with a do or die strategy. We'll go out there with our boat in good condition for the wind we expect.

"We've got to sail smart and sail fast, the same as we've been trying in the first four races. Obviously we haven't won so far but that doesn't mean the way we've been sailing has been wrong.

"Hopefully we'll have a better day tomorrow."

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