KEY POINTS:
VALENCIA - BMW Oracle Racing will be forced to have a bit of a rethink over the next few days after a recurring problem with a headsail foil cost them a win over China Team.
Oracle went into the match with almost an entirely new team, choosing to rest their key sailors including skipper/helmsman Chris Dickson, tactician Gavin Brady and navigator Peter Isler.
The new look Oracle side stormed across the startline well in their flight two match, well ahead of China Team.
But their lead was shortlived as their headsail came crashing down when it tore out of the foil.
Oracle were then unsuccessful in rehoisting the sail which allowed the China Team to fly past them and round the first mark, 5m 15s ahead.
While Oracle were able to close the gap and managed to rehoist the headsail on the second beat, the deficit was too much and China Team recorded its first win of the Louis Vuitton Cup by 3m 15s.
BMW Oracle Racing design co-ordinator Ian Burns said his team were going to remove the rig and do a thorough inspection.
The syndicate had a similar problem in the last cup pre-regatta held earlier this month.
Burns said it was a new foil but of a very similar design.
"Obviously, we will take remedial action to ensure this does not happen again," he said.
"We had a similar problem in Act 13, but the two incidents happened in completely different circumstances."
Emirates Team New Zealand secured revenge in their race against Mascalzone winning by 25s.
Mascalzone Latino caused the first upset of the challenger series beating Team New Zealand in race one of round one after the Kiwis opted for the wrong side of the course.
However there was little to fault in the Kiwis performance yesterday.
They dominated in the pre-start and sailed a smart conservative race in the particularly shifting conditions.
Team New Zealand's runner/pit Tony Rae said they came off the line well, gained out of the tacks and were able to cross and get the side they wanted. "The afterguard did a great job of placing the boat in a position to try and defend the lead that we had. We were playing it safe," he said.
NZL92 looked comfortable in the breeze, which was around 14-16 knots.
It wasn't a good day for Mascalzone Latino, who were beaten earlier in the day by Areva Challenge after copping a penalty in the first downwind leg.
In other matches, Team Shosholoza beat United Internet Germany by 1m 23s, Luna Rossa beat Victory Challenge by 27s and Spain's Desafio Espanol came from behind to beat +39 on the last run.
Areva Challenge beat +39 by 1m 11s after +39 were penalised after their spinnaker touched Areva.
Team New Zealand were to race +39 overnight and meet Areva Challenge tonight.
Standings
BMW Oracle 23
Luna Rossa 23
Team New Zealand 20
Desafio Espanol 19
Victory Challenge 16
Mascalzone Latino 14
Team Shosholoza 14
Areva 13
+39 6
Team Germany 3
China Team 3
