Yachting: Team NZ recover to beat Italians

Dean Barker

Team New Zealand recovered from a slow start to eventually beat struggling Italian syndicate +39 Challenge in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta at Valencia yesterday.

After losing the start, Team New Zealand crossed 28s ahead of +39 Challenge for their sixth win.

Racing was delayed for several hours because of light winds but the breeze had built to 10 knots when racing commenced.

Iain Percy, +39 Challenge skipper, used the wind better down the right as his older boat won the start.

Percy maintained a tenuous lead over his counterpart Dean Barker for the first leg, but on the downwind leg New Zealand pounced.

Using superior boat speed, NZL84 rolled over the top of ITA59, with Percy tacking his boat wildly in a bid to pin a penalty on the faster boat.

The tactic failed and when the Italians broke a jib up the final beat there was little hope of a comeback.

However, by the finish the determined +39 crew had held the losing margin to just 28s.

The second leg of racing was postponed when the breeze died.

The win leaves Team New Zealand tied in equal first place with BMW Oracle, Luna Rossa Challenge and America's Cup holders Alinghi on six points.

- NZPA