Yachting: Team NZ score two wins on first day

Team New Zealand scored two relatively easy wins on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup Act 6 yachting regatta off Malmo in Sweden today.

However, it was not all plain sailing against the two lesser teams building up for the next America's Cup - China Team and United internet Team Germany.

A problem with a spinnaker pole in the second race turned it into a much closer finish after NZL 82 had opened up a considerable lead China Team.

A fitting on the topping lift failed just as the spinnaker was being lowered at the end of the first run and both pole and sail went into the water. The pole broke.

With an eye on the fast-approaching China Team, the New Zealand crew worked quickly to get NZL 82 moving again.

CHN 69 got close, but NZL 82 was not seriously threatened and at the finish was 32 seconds ahead.

"They just got on with the job coolly and calmly. They knew what had to be done and they did it. It was good to be part of it," Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said.

NZL 82 led CHN 69 around the first mark by 1min and was 59sec at the second mark after the first downwind leg. At the third mark the lead was trimmed to 36sec.

NZL 82 beat United internet Team Germany (GER 72) by 1min 39sec earlier.

Skipper Dean Barker claimed the right side of the course as planned. The wind shifted further left than anticipated giving GERR 72 an advantage but NZL 82 was still ahead by 33 seconds at the top mark.

NZ 82 extended its lead to 1min 3sec on the run and from there it was a procession to the finish.

The other top teams - Alinghi, BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa - also scored two wins each.

The weather off Malmo, in sharp contrast to the previous week, was wet and gloomy with a breeze from the south and south-east between 14 and 16 knots, climbing to 18-plus knots towards the end of the second race.

- NZPA