Yachting: Team NZ edges up to third overall

Team New Zealand has moved up to third place overall after stronger winds aided their cause in the second day of yachting's pre-America's Cup fleet racing off Valencia.

The New Zealanders rebounded from their first day fourth and seventh place finishes to post an encouraging second in the day's first race but slipped with a fifth in the second race.

"The stronger breeze went a long way to sorting out the fleet in the first race today. We sailed a good race and had a much better result," Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said.

Dalton said the fight for second was not settled until the last seconds of the race with the New Zealanders edging Luna Rossa by six seconds.

But by race two, the breeze had fallen away to 8-10 knots with occasional puffs to 12 knots and the New Zealanders suffered.

Early in the race the team were in 11th but climbed back through the fleet to finish fifth.

NZL 84 ended the day third on the leaderboard with 34 points and within striking distance of Alinghi on 41 points and Luna Rossa on 36.

- NZPA