KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand have a fast boat and great crew work, but they can't afford bad starts if they want to challenge for yachting's America's Cup, according to a rival crewman.
Team NZ, already qualified for Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals, extended their winning sequence off Valencia by taking out their round-robin contest with Sweden's Victory Challenge today.
However, skipper Dean Barker and his crew had to come from behind to stretch their streak to nine, after they mistimed their start.
For the Swedes, the 34-second defeat ended their hopes of qualifying for the best-of-nine semifinals beginning next Tuesday and they crossed the finish line with shoulders slumped.
But the result sparked Spanish celebrations as it allowed hometown favourites Desafio Espanol to claim the final spot on offer.
One Spaniard not rejoicing, however, was Victory bowman Pepe Ribes, who was disappointed he and his crewmates couldn't build on the significant advantage they had over NZL92 off the startline.
"The key was in the start and we should have absolutely thrashed them," he said.
"We were 18sec ahead of Emirates Team NZ but it wasn't enough because their boat is very fast and they are possibly the best in the fleet for tacking.
"But if Emirates have starts like they did today, they won't reach the final."
Team NZ head Grant Dalton conceded that the New Zealanders were below par in the start box, while runner Tony Rae said Barker was upset at an error in judgment.
"Deano wasn't very happy with himself today, but it was a judgment issue and he realised that the timing was out and it put us a long way back," Rae said.
"We chipped away to get as close as possible at the top mark. You are always after the perfect manoeuvres all the way round the course and any little mistake can be costly."
Team NZ reduced the margin to 10sec up the opening beat and got their chance to overtake on the first run.
The Swedes, with NZL92 in hot pursuit, decided to gybe to the right, opening up a passing lane which was gratefully accepted.
The main interest in the final day of round-robin competition tomorrow will centre on the clash between Americans Oracle Racing and Team NZ.
The winners will claim the No 1 ranking and with it the right to choose their semifinal opponents from a shortlist that also includes Italy's Luna Rossa.
Oracle took out the earlier clash with Team NZ.
Headed by multi-billionaire Larry Ellison, the San Francisco-based syndicate have a predominantly New Zealand crew, including skipper Chris Dickson and tactician Gavin Brady.
Brady admitted that Dickson could be a demanding taskmaster, but put that down to ambition.
He said Oracle had been through some testing times during a long campaign, but those were now in the past.
"Chris can be a very aggressive boss, sometimes difficult to work with, but it's his desire and passion," he said.
"Larry gave Chris the infrastructure to focus on a four-year campaign.
"We've had our ups and downs -- you're going to have them on a four-year campaign -- but we've been over our bumpy roads and feel pretty strong right now."
- NZPA
