Yachting: Dalton takes positives from third placing

America's Cup challenger Emirates Team New Zealand (left) and defender Alinghi of Switzerland race downwind with spinnakers off Valencia this morning. Picture / Reuters

Team New Zealand head Grant Dalton was picking through the positives after securing third place in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta which concluded in Spain overnight (NZ time).

Team New Zealand edged their nemesis and America's Cup holders Alinghi in the final day's racing by 16 seconds, while a torn spinnaker in their earlier race blew their chances against Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, which won by 1min 08sec.

New Zealand skipper Chris Dickson led American syndicate BMW Oracle to line honours in Louis Vuitton Act 10 in Valencia, despite sailing one less match.

Oracle's two wins slipped them into a four way-tie with the other leading teams on nine points but the final placings were decided on head-to-head matches between the tied teams.

Dalton said the regatta was all about building towards the America's Cup in 2007.

"All today's racing demonstrates is that no one is unbeatable in this competition.

"We didn't come here expecting to win every match. We're also here to look and learn. I would be disappointed after a loss if we had learned nothing."

Team New Zealand's victory over Alinghi, who thrashed them 5-0 in 2003 to wrestle away the America's Cup, propelled them up the ladder as they finished with nine wins from 11 matches.

Alinghi finished fourth, with Luna Rossa claiming second.

Team New Zealand suffered a torn spinnaker in an earlier race, and the problem flared again against Luna Rossa in their first race.

As they duelled downwind, Team New Zealand tried to roll over the top of the Italians who had just made a passing move but James Spithill engaged Dean Barker in a slow luff as both boats sailed closer into the wind.

As both boats rounded closer to the wind, the lightly built spinnakers loaded up until the red kite of NZL 84 exploded.

As the shreds of sailcloth laid blew over Luna Rossa's rig, the umpires added insult to injury by handing Team New Zealand a penalty.

"It could be argued that without the rip in the spinnaker, there would not have been a penalty, we could have emerged from the luffing encounter with Luna Rossa still in the lead.

"We'll never know," Dalton said.

"I don't want to take anything away from Luna Rossa. They sailed a good race and gave us a really hard time when we led from the start. There was nothing in it and the race could have gone either way."

Dalton and his crew could take some satisfaction from beating Alinghi, a race they dominated throughout.

Dalton said the team always had Alinghi in its sights as a must-win match.

"We needed a win for our own satisfaction. Alinghi is sailing a well-tried boat that has been refined to the point almost of perfection.

"The crew is a polished act. We still have a lot of development work to do on our current design concepts."

- NZPA