Yachting: Team NZ finish with a win

Team New Zealand beat BMW Oracle in the in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta off Valencia today to complete the series with 10 wins from 11 races.

However, yesterday's loss to defending America's Cup champions Alinghi meant they completed this fourth series of races leading into the America's Cup challenge races, also off Valencia, in second place behind Alinghi.

The fifth series, a fleet race, will start on Saturday.

Team New Zealand beat BMW Oracle by 17sec.

BMW Oracle finished third and Luna Rossa fourth.

Today's match racing was similar to yesterday's disappointing race against Alinghi, but with a result favouring Team New Zealand.

NZL 82 had a good start after getting a favourable shift off the line and then controlled the race to the end.

Their lead fluctuated from about two boat lengths to six as BMW Oracle attacked continually but could not break through.

"They did a great job in the pre-start and exercised control," Team New Zealand head Grant Dalton said.

"Once we were clearly in the lead there was no way we were going to let it go. On the second beat they threw tack after tack at us.

"We felt comfortable when we were six boat lengths ahead and nervous on the last downwind leg when they closed in to two boat lengths.

"The grinders will be tired tonight. They deserve their day off tomorrow."

Final ranking

1 Alinghi, 2 Emirates Team New Zealand, 3 BMW Oracle, 4 Luna Rossa, 5 Victory Challenge, 6 Defasio Espanol, 7 K Challenge, 8 Mascalzone Latino, 9 +39, 10 United internet Team Germany, 11 China Team, 12 Shosholoza.

- NZPA