Yachting: Torn spinnaker costs Team New Zealand

VALENCIA, Spain - Team New Zealand recorded its first loss in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta at Valencia overnight (NZ time) when a torn spinnaker allowed Oracle to take the race by 47 seconds.

With both teams in new boats, it was a match that was keenly anticipated and one that was always going to be tight.

In the first beat both crews worked the shifts and as they neared the top mark NZL 84 had a small but precious advantage. But USA 87 was still dangerous and attacked, pushing NZL 84 above the mark.

NZL 84 recovered well and and as the yachts converged there was nothing between them before Team New Zealand's spinnaker tore.

"When that happened on the first downwind leg we knew that we were in big trouble," said Team New Zealand's Grant Dalton.

"We recovered quickly, cutting away what was left of the spinnaker and hoisting another kite. We attacked again and again right to the finish, but there was no way around them.

"They were 45 sec ahead at the leeward mark. We took 29 sec out of their lead on the second beat. They slipped away again on the second run and extended to 47 sec.

"The match did answer one of our major questions -- NZL 84 is not off the pace. Today we're happy with that."

For the second match of the day against China, Ben Ainslie took the helm, with Chris Salthouse rotating for Don Cowie and Andrew McLean for Grant Dalton.

NZL 84 got its bow in front and steadily extended its lead finishing seven minutes ahead of China.

- NZPA