Peter Lester: Consistency paramount in Cup pre-regattas

Performing consistently will be an aim for Team New Zealand heading into the next lot of America's Cup pre-regattas, which start in Sweden on Thursday.

Although the regattas are not being sailed in the host city, Valencia, Emirates-sponsored Team New Zealand will have plenty they'll want to achieve in the year's final events in Malmo and in Trapani in September.

Consistency of performance is a big one, making sure they retain their spot in the top four alongside Alinghi, BMW Oracle and Team Luna Rossa.

It will not be the end of the world if they drop a couple of races, but they will be wanting to remain in that first division. It has been pleasing to see the key members of the afterguard - Dean Barker, Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Hall, Adam Beashel and Ray Davies - doing a lot of racing in between cup regattas, competing in different styles of boats, whether it be Transpac 52s or in the Swedish Match Tour.

What that is doing is broadening their knowledge base, and it is great that syndicate boss Grant Dalton has encouraged that.

Although Team New Zealand have already begun building the hull of their first 2007 generation boat, work will still be going on with the keels, bulbs, finns rudders, masts and sails, etc.

Reliability-wise, New Zealand have been pretty good, although in the light winds in Valencia a lot of boats blew out gennakers on the jumper strut. When gybing in light winds, the gennaker tends to fly really close to the rig and can catch on the jumper strut, tearing the head out of the sail. That is a mechanical problem that needs to be solved.

At the end of the Malmo regatta, Team New Zealand will be looking to analyse who won the starts and from where they entered the start box starboard end or port end (taking into consideration the starboard end has the right of way), what tactics were used at the first cross and whether a boat has an edge in certain conditions.

Oracle have undergone some personnel changes since the regattas in Valencia, and it will be interesting to see how they fare. World class American tactician John Kostecki has moved from the sailing team to a consultancy role, and there is a question mark over New Zealand helmsman Gavin Brady.

Other changes may follow. It will be interesting to see how many, if any, choose to join Paul Cayard's round-the-world team. The rumour mill suggests as many as eight, which would have quite an impact on Oracle's crew.

Although they didn't have a good result in Valencia, it is important not to lose sight of the fact they have a tremendous amount of resources and good people within the syndicate. They can easily turn things around.

Team Luna Rossa, formally Prada, impressed me in Valencia, and it will be interesting to see if they can continue that form. Their helmsman, Australian James Spithill, was the best starter in the 2002-03 Louis Vuitton Cup and again in Valencia in June.

In so many races, especially when the boats are even, races are won in the start. Luna Rossa is a real threat to Team New Zealand come the challenger series in 2007.

Malmo could throw up a variety of conditions. There will be a bit of a current, the water will be cold and there isn't a lot of salt in the water so the boats will sit slightly lower. Because it is cooler up there the air is denser and therefore more powerful. Fifteen knots of wind in Malmo at 14C has more power than 15 knots in Valencia at 30.

I wouldn't be surprised to see teams try some different things in Malmo. You have to take Malmo and Trapani in context. They are regattas, which means more yachting, more starts and more mark roundings, but they are also there to promote the cup, teams and sponsors.

AMERICA'S CUP PRE-REGATTAS

Act 6: August 25-31, match racing, Malmo, Sweden.

Act 7: September 2-4, fleet racing, Malmo, Sweden.

Act 8: September 29-October 5, match racing, Trapani, Italy.

Act 9: October 7-9, fleet racing, Trapani, Italy.

Standings 1. Alinghi (Switz), 23 pts.

2. Emirates Team New Zealand, 21.

3. Team Luna Rossa (Ita), 21.

4. BMW Oracle Racing (US), 19.

5. Victory Challenge (Swe), 15.

6. Mascalzone Latino (Ita), 13.

7. Desafio Espanol (Spain), 12.

8. K-Challenge (Fra), 12.

9. +39 (Ita), 8.

10. United internet (Ger), 6.

11. Team China (China), 4.

12. Team Shosholoza (S Africa), 2.