Sailing: NZL 82 still on winning Cup course

Team New Zealand handed Spain its first defeat as it posted another two wins in the Louis Vuitton Act 6 yachting regatta off Malmo in Sweden yesterday.

Alinghi, BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa joined Team NZ in getting through the day without a loss. All four jointly lead the competition.

Team NZ's head, Grant Dalton, speaking before the match race against Spain, said it was not an occasion to make a mistake. "They're fast and their crew work is impressive. This is not going to be an easy race."

NZL82 won the start, rounding the first mark with a 14sec advantage. On the second beat, NZL82 slowly made gains and by the top mark had extended the lead to 36sec and went on to finish 33sec ahead.

NZL82's second race, against the Italians, was postponed for 90 minutes when the breeze dropped and became shifty.

When race officials decided to call a start the breeze had picked up and by the time they entered the start box was gusting above 20 knots, reaching 27 knots on the course. NZL82 won the start taking a 27sec lead at the first mark. ITA77 brought up a stronger breeze on the run and had recovered 10sec at the leeward mark.

On the second beat NZL82 extended to lead by 1min 2sec. ITA77 had trouble with the spinnaker hoist on the second run and NZL82 sailed away. The Italians also had to complete a penalty turn and NZL82 won by 2min 58sec.

The stronger winds presented some problems: ESP67 broke its boom, CHN 69 broached and took several minutes to sort itself out and Luna Rossa was in a near-broach. Shosholoza (RSA83) did not start the second race after winning the first race of the afternoon against SWE73.

- NZPA