There is one event left in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, in Fukuoka, Japan, from November 18 to 20 before the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda.

All six America’s Cup teams will be working harder than ever to finish their 2016 campaigns in style, and perhaps none more so than Bermuda-based SoftBank Team Japan, who will be racing on home waters in front of Japanese fans for the very first time.

After three podium places in the last three events, the Japanese team go into the last event before Bermuda in 2017 in good spirits and with a realistic chance of winning the event.

They may even have a shot at the overall Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series title.

For a team which was only born in May 2015, that is an outstanding achievement, and something Japanese sailing fans should be very excited about.

The team’s development can be seen clearly when looked at through the prism of results in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series.

They made their debut at the first event of 2015 in Portsmouth, finishing fifth and then fourth in Gothenburg. Oman and New York saw solid performances but not quite enough to break into the top three.

That all changed in Chicago this year, finally putting them on to the regatta podium.

Since that event the team has not looked back, recording another third-place finish in Portsmouth back in July, and second place in Toulon in September.

The numbers don’t lie.

Fifth and fourth places, up to thirds, and then a second — it’s clear that SoftBank Team Japan are on the right trajectory to think realistically about that top step.

In May 2015 when the team was launched, Jimmy Spithill, the Oracle Team USA skipper, was asked what he thought about SoftBank Team Japan’s chances.

“I know SoftBank Team Japan is starting late compared to some of the other teams, but I wouldn’t underestimate how competitive they are going to be,“ he said.

How true those words were then, and even more so today.