Team NZ win Valencia regatta

7.30am

Team New Zealand were the main beneficiaries of the weather in Spain today when they won the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta in Valencia.

The former cup holders ended the regatta with just one loss after light winds saw racing cancelled on the scheduled last day of competition.

They finished with 11.5 points, one clear of Italians Luna Rossa, the only syndicate to beat the New Zealanders in the event.

NZL81 did manage to get on the water and led Alinghi after two legs of four, before the 40-minute time limit to complete leg three was exceeded.

The match was abandoned as were the other three matches.

The day had started full of anticipation with only two points separating the top four boats.

Team New Zealand were originally due to race Alinghi and BMW Oracle. In the end, the lack of breeze won the day.

Team New Zealand leader Grant Dalton admitted that the low wind had a lot to play in the overall result.

"You never come in not wanting to do your best, and winning -- that's the way it fell this time," he said.

"It's a fickle game and it can go the other way very easily.

"Maybe the other three top teams teams are oriented a little further up the wind range.

"But I thought we sailed nicely... the back of the boat got the tight calls right."

BMW Oracle Racing, who won the Marseille Louis Vuitton event last month and Team Alinghi, holders of the America's Cup, finished third and fourth respectively.

Team Alinghi lost to each of the teams ahead of them, as did BMW Oracle Racing, who squeeze ahead of Alinghi by virtue of winning their first round robin match.

Standings:

Team New Zealand 11.5 points 1

Luna Rossa 10.5 2

BMW Oracle Racing 9.5 3

Team Alinghi 9.5 4

Le Defi 5.5 5

K-Challenge 4.5 6

Team Shosholoza 1.5 7


- NZPA