Yachting: Big four contenders neck-and-neck on final day

Team New Zealand prepare to round the windward mark in the match race against Desafio Espanol yesterday. Team NZ won by 54s. Picture / Reuters

Nothing separated Alinghi, Team New Zealand, Oracle and Luna Rossa heading into the final day of the 10th America's Cup pre-regatta in Val-encia.

The defender and the three big challengers were going into the final races overnight with a loss each.

Maintaining that record was going to be tough for Emirates Team New Zealand, who faced Luna Rossa and Alinghi in their final races in the match-racing regatta.

In their races yesterday, the New Zealand syndicate beat Mascalzone Latino by 32s and Desafio Espanol by 54s.

In the day's main race, Alinghi handed Oracle and their new boat USA87 their first loss with a 21s win.

In a tight pre-start, which saw a near collision, Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird guided SUI75 over the line with a slender advantage.

Although Alinghi rounded the mark first, the boats appeared to be quite even. The lead was attributable more to positioning and starting ability than boat speed.

Alinghi held its position for the rest of the race, resulting in an important win for the Swiss.

On the Yachting World website, journalist Matt Sheahan noted that Alinghi's tactics might have been a fraction better but it was Oracle's boat handling and crew work that stood out."Oracle's spinnaker hoists were better, but only by a split second, their gybes smoother, but only by a whisker and their bottom-end mark roundings half a boat length slicker," Sheahan wrote.

"For this to be visible against the frequently flawless Swiss team is a mark of both how good the USA team has become and how small the crucial differences are at the top."

While there has been much speculation about what Oracle might be hiding under the yacht's skirt, it is understood they have a forward rudder, which would indicate why the yacht appears to be able to turn tightly without losing speed.

Oracle were to face Luna Rossa and Desafio Espanol overnight. Their race against +39 was abandoned earlier in the regatta and it was not clear last night if it would be re-sailed. Alinghi's other match last night was to be against Victory Challenge.

A three-day fleet racing regatta starts on Friday night.

* ABN Amro One have battled their way back into the lead in the seventh leg of the round-the-world yacht race from New York to Portsmouth.

After taking an early lead in the leg, ABN Amro One ran into a series difficulties on the fourth day when they hit a whale, had a problem with their canting keel and suffered the consequences of taking a southerly route.

But by last night the Mike Sanderson-skippered team were back in front and had a 25-nautical-mile lead over Ericsson.

They are expected to reach Portsmouth on Saturday.