Team NZ finish 2nd in pre-America's Cup regatta

Team New Zealand beat Italian and Spanish syndicates on the water yesterday to move into a four-way tie for first place at the end of the pre-America's Cup regatta in Sicily.

But despite the points tie, Team New Zealand were relegated to second after their loss against Swiss cup holders Alinghi on Monday was used as the tie-breaker.

But that was good enough to leave them top-placed of the challenging syndicates, ahead of Italy's third-placed Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle, skippered by New Zealander Chris Dickson, in fourth.

Yesterday was a much better day on the water for the black boat after Monday's trouncing by Alinghi, coming back to beat Spain's Desafio Espanol by one minute 39 seconds in the day's first race before coming home 1min 30sec ahead of Luna Rossa of Italy in the afternoon.

French syndicate K-Challenge provided their second shock of the regatta, beating Alinghi by 35sec yesterday, following their earlier defeat of Team New Zealand.

Alinghi then suffered a second defeat in a day when BMW Oracle thrashed them by 1min 32sec.

The results favoured the New Zealanders, lifting them to second in the final standings after they slipped to fourth yesterday.

The sun shone on Sicily yesterday but light and shifty winds made life difficult for the race tacticians.

In their first race for the day, Team New Zealand looked to have won its start over Desafio Espanol, who were forced to tack away immediately after starting.

But that split paid dividends for the Spanish who managed to sail away to an early lead.

New Zealand skipper Dean Barker and his crew eventually passed Desafio Espanol on the second beat when they gained 2min on the Spanish, going on to win comfortably.

In NZL 82's second race, they again lagged Luna Rossa early.

But at the top mark, Dean Barker used the right-of-way rules to prevent Luna Rossa tacking.

Luna Rossa was forced to allow the Kiwis to slip through into a 15sec lead down the first run.

The lead switched one more time but a choice by New Zealand to pursue the opposite side of the course was decisive when a wind shift in their favour put them around the final mark 42sec ahead.

Luna Rossa's spinnaker then tore and the black boat sailed away to a 1min 30sec victory.

- NZPA