WATCH: Kate Middleton beats Peter Burling and Blair Tuke in Great Britain Sail Grand Prix

New Zealand yachting legends Peter Burling and Blair Tuke found themselves up against an unlikely opponent over the weekend: The Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate Middleton joined Sir Ben Ainslie's British team in a friendly Commonwealth Race against the Kiwis in Plymouth, ahead of the formal competition of the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.

The Duchess, who is Royal Patron of the 1851 Trust, the official charity of the Great Britain SailGP team, seemed to be the lucky ticket as the Brits beat the New Zealanders in their cordial match.

Burling and Tuke were able to meet the Duchess ahead of their friendly race and presented her with a framed artwork on behalf of the Kiwi team and its charitable partner, Live Ocean.

"The Commonwealth Race was a pretty special way to start the day," says Tuke. "It was great to spend some time talking to Her Royal Highness about ocean conservation and the power of sport to connect people to such critical messages."

The Plymouth series is part of a wider Grand Prix circuit which will see the teams head to Copenhagen next followed by St Tropez and Cadiz.

Overall, New Zealand currently sits in third place behind Australia in first and Great Britain in second.