Yachting: Team NZ third after two rounds of fleet racing

Team New Zealand are third overall after two rounds of fleet racing in a pre-America's Cup regatta off Valencia, Spain, this morning.

Dean Barker helmed the black boat to a win in the first race but struggled in lighter winds during the second race to finish ninth.

Team NZ ended the day equal on 16 points with arch-rivals Alinghi and Oracle.

Barker said the win in race one was the result of staying on the pace and taking the chance when it was presented.

"We sailed well, we hung on to Luna Rossa but it looked like they had the race sewn up.

"Then they made a couple of bad decisions on the last run and suddenly it was game on (with 400 metres to go).

"It was one of those times when we have to make many split second decisions and ours were the right ones."

Team NZ had an average start in race two, he said, and then did not sail well.

"We missed some shifts on the first beat and it was impossible to recover."

Team boss Grant Dalton said the day's racing showed just how close the boats all were in performance terms.

"Today, we saw some of the less fancied teams such as Mascalzone Latino and +39 for example, come through the fleet to win.

"That shows just how close the boats are in performance terms .... It also shows that no one can take anything for granted in Valencia.

"To win, you have to be on top of your game at every start -- and have a little luck as well."

Sweden's Victory Challenge with a fourth and second leads the 12-boat fleet with 20 points. Luna Rossa of Italy is second on 18 points.

Racing continues on Sunday (NZT) with two more fleet races.

Standings:

Victory Challenge (4, 2) 20 points

Luna Rossa Challenge (2, 6) 18

Team New Zealand (1, 9) 16

Alinghi (3, 7) 16

Oracle Racing (5, 5) 16

K-Challenge (7, 4) 15

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (12, 1) 13

+39 Challenge (10, 3), 13

Desaf o Espanol 2007 (8, 8) 10

Team Germany (6, 11) 9

Team Shosholoza (9, 10) 7

China Team (11, 12) 3.

- NZPA