Yachting: Team NZ desperate to avoid trouble

While winning is important, escaping act five unscathed is a priority for Team New Zealand heading into the three-day fleet racing regatta.

The next America's Cup pre-regatta [act five] started in Valencia overnight. All 12 teams will compete in five fleet races, an experience which Emirates Team NZ boss Grant Dalton concedes can be a little nerve-racking. "Especially the starts," Dalton said.

"Twelve 85ft yachts jostling for position at the start will be great for the spectators but a nervous time for the crews. A collision before the start or rounding a mark is always a distinct possibility. That's very much top of mind.

"We are running out of boats and I don't think flying another one to Europe would be an option."

Not that he is saying skipper and helmsman Dean Barker won't be mixing it before the start.

"We go out to win and we'll work for the best possible start but we won't go looking for trouble," Dalton said.

Team NZ finished second behind Alinghi in the match-racing regatta, a result that bodes well for the Louis Vuitton Cup now less than two years away.

Dalton said the team had learned a lot while competing in Valencia. "We can now clearly see the gaps and we will work doubly hard to bridge them. Last year we were concentrating on the big picture, now we have the luxury of being able to look at the detail."

He said none of the races had been easy. "I don't subscribe to the theory that there is a big gap between the top four syndicates and the rest of the fleet. We had very tough races against Spain, Sweden and K-Challenge.

"The teams further down the rankings have only been going a short time so there's no surprises there. Give them time. We were weak this time last year."

Dalton said Valencia was shaping as a good venue for the cup.

The Programme
Act five: Fleet racing
Location: Valencia
Overnight: Two races
Tonight: Two races
Sunday: One race.