Team New Zealand open with two wins

8.00am

Team New Zealand scored two wins on the opening day of the second America's Cup pre-regatta in Valencia, Spain overnight (NZT).

Racing in the second of three Louis Vuitton-sponsored regattas was delayed to allow the wind to pick-up, but when it did Team New Zealand easily rolled the South African syndicate Team Shosholoza in the first race by two minutes 47 seconds.

The wind was gentle five to seven knot Easterly, but it built to 10 knots for the second flight of races with Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, downing K-Challenge from France by 1min 53sec.

In other races Italian syndicate and cup debutants Luna Rossa (formerly Prada) caused a big upset in beating BMW Oracle in their opening race by 58sec.

They failed to match that effort against Cup holders Alinghi in their second outing slipping to a 25sec loss with the Swiss-based team leading from start to finish.

Alinghi joined Team New Zealand as the only other unbeaten crew out of the eight syndicates.

Leaderboard, matches won/sailed (points):

Team Alinghi 2/2 (2), Team New Zealand 2/2 (2),BMW Oracle Racing 1/2 (1),Luna Rossa 1/2 (1), K-Challenge 1/2 (1), Le Defi 1/2 (1) +39 0/2 (0), Team Shosholoza 0/2 (0).

- NZPA