Strong start from Team NZ

10.00am

Team New Zealand carried on their strong form on the first day of the third pre-America's Cup yachting regatta at Valencia today.

In moderate-to-light winds, the New Zealanders won the first fleet race and place second in the second to establish a healthy lead in the eight-yacht regatta.

In the first race, NZL81 picked a good wind shift and snatched the lead half-way up the second beat. The lead was extended to 30 boat lengths in only a few minutes to make the result safe.

Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the early break was crucial.

"We callled the wind correctly and it paid off. From then, we we sailed conservatively and were never threatened," he said.

The result of the second race was in doubt to the last leg, with Alinghi taking the gun two seconds ahead of Team New Zealand and K-Challenge third, crossing the line 22sec astern of NZL81.

"A few hundred metres from the finish we took a narrow lead but that didn't last long in the light breeze," Dalton said.

"A two-second margin is nothing, We're satisfied with the second.

"No team can expect a string of unbroken wins in the fleet racing. It's not the way it happens. With six races to go, we will need to be consistent."

Leaderboard after two races:

Team New Zealand 15, Team Alinghi 13, Luna Rossa 11, Le Defi 9, K-Challenge 7, BMW Oracle 7, Shosholoza 6, Challenge + 39 4.

- NZPA