KEY POINTS:
Formula One legend Michael Schumacher got a taste of a different type of top-level racing today, and at a much more leisurely pace than he's used to.
Schumacher was Team New Zealand's "18th man" for the first of their two latest wins in the America's Cup challengers' yachting series in Spain.
The German, who claimed a record seven drivers' championships before his retirement last year, would have regularly seen his speedometer record more than 300km/h during his F1 days.
Off Valencia, NZL92 averaged around 10 knots, or 18 to 19km/h, as it comfortably beat Italian syndicate +39 Challenge by 45 seconds in the Louis Vuitton Cup.
"He certainly didn't get thrown off the back with the acceleration," Team NZ runner Tony Rae quipped.
Rae said the crew got the chance to chat with Schumacher, who took a genuine interest in what was going on.
"There are certainly a lot of parallels with his sport," he said.
"We're all looking for tiny gains in every area, aerodynamically in particular."
Strategist Ray Davies described Schumacher as "a real funny guy" who helped to loosen up the crew on the way to the course.
It was a tradition on board for someone to tell a joke on the way out and Davies said it was navigator Kevin Hall's turn today, but his effort fell flat.
"So then Michael stepped in and told a joke and had the whole team rolling around in laughter," he said.
"It was great to have such a good personality on board."
Schumacher's presence in a role that involves no sailing duties and is given to invited guests was arranged by mutual sponsor Omega.
It was the first time he had been on a yacht like NZL92 and he described it as "interesting experience".
"If you see the effort that happens behind the scenes, it's quite tremendous, the same as in Formula One," he said.
"To have a test boat and a race boat and all this, and the way the crew operates, the systematic approach and so on. It's very comparable."
Schumacher didn't stay on board as Team NZ strengthened their claim to an LV Cup semifinal spot by winning their second match of the afternoon, against France's Areva Challenge, by 59sec.
The two results kept them third on the points table, three points off the top but with a race in hand.
While the New Zealanders had gone in as favourites against +39 and Areva, syndicate head Grant Dalton said the reality of the regatta was that there was no chance to relax.
"One small mistake at a critical time can cost a race," he said.
"These two wins have helped consolidate our position among the leaders in the rankings, so we're satisfied with our day's work."
Co-leaders Oracle Racing (United States) and Luna Rossa (Italy) also gained maximum points from their two matches, but Oracle were made to sweat it out by both their opponents.
The Americans had to come from behind against both South Africans Shosholoza and Swedish entry Victory Challenge to keep their position in the standings.
Grinder Joe Spooner, one of 11 New Zealanders among the 17 sailors on board USA98, said it was crew work rather than boat speed that proved decisive in "two exhilarating matches".
"We had to fight from behind, which we don't like to do," he said.
"The whole team gelled and it wasn't just one manoeuvre or action that did it."
- NZPA
