Team NZ sail to head of field with three wins

8.10am

Team New Zealand swept their three match races this morning (NZ time) to sail to the lead in the pre-America's Cup regatta at Valenia.

In light winds that contrasted with the heavy conditions that saw racing cancelled yesterday, NZL81 beat K-Challenge, Luna Rossa and +39 Challenge to go into the final day with a one point lead over Luna Rossa.

Sitting on seven wins each from eight races before today, much interest surrounded the clash of Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa, the Italians having inflicted the only defeat on Grant Dalton's team.

However, the breeze, which never got above seven knots, took away much of the match's drama.

The New Zealand afterguard read it best to win by a massive 6min 18sec.

NZL81 won the start and took the favoured right side of the course, opening up a two minute 26 second margin by the end of the first leg.

Team New Zealand never let control slip, using a delta on the final leg to pull well clear.

Managing director Dalton said the delta flattered his team.

"We sailed well and had a lot of luck with the breeze. Luna Rossa did not sail badly but they had a lot of bad luck with the breeze," he said.

Earlier Team New Zealand beat K-Challenge by 1min 9sec and in their third match dominated from the start against Italian's +39 Challenge to win by 3min 17sec.

Dalton said the light breeze today made big demands on the crew.

"The afterguard worked superbly and everyone else responded. We'll take today's wins and bank the points. Tomorrow is another tough day."

NZL81's final three opponents tomorrow are Le Defi and rich syndicates BMW Oracle and Alinghi, who both sit two points behind the New Zealanders.

Points:

Team New Zealand 10

Luna Rossa Challenge 9

Team Alinghi 8

BMW Racing Oracle 8

Le Defi 4

K-Challenge 3

+39 2

Shosholoza 0


- NZPA