Yachting: Team NZ third after fall to Alinghi

Alinghi stretched its match-racing winning streak in the America's Cup preliminary series to 22 victories overnight with a win over Emirates Team New Zealand, the Associated Press (AP) reported today.

The Swiss team, which is defending the 2003 America's Cup title, had already secured the top ranking in the Louis Vuitton Act 6 series the day before, with a win over Luna Rossa.

The margin of victory for Alinghi was a comfortable two minutes and three seconds. 

American team BMW Oracle beat Italy's Luna Rossa last night to claim second place, on the final day of match-racing that had begun on August 25.

The New Zealand team had eight wins to be in third place overall. Luna Rossa, also with eight wins from the 11 races, finished fourth.

The Louis Vuitton Acts are 14 regattas that started last year as a prelude to the 2007 America's Cup, which will be held off Valencia, Spain.

The results of these races will help seed the competition for the 2007 challenger trials.