Yachting: Triumph over Oracle keeps NZ hopes alive

TRAPANI - Team New Zealand still have a chance of winning the eighth America's Cup pre-regatta in Sicily after edging out fellow heavyweights Oracle in a ding-dong battle off the coast of Sicily.

In a day where Italian syndicate +39 lost a man overboard and teams battled gear failure, the Emirates-sponsored New Zealand syndicate got their regatta back on track after their surprise defeat to France's K-Challenge on the opening day.

In what will possibly go down as one of the best races of this year's cup pre-regattas, Team New Zealand held off a late charge from Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing to cross the line just 3s ahead.

Team New Zealand has beaten Oracle twice and lost once in this year's match-racing regattas. Team New Zealand won the first race in Valencia but Oracle gained revenge in Sweden, although that victory came after Team New Zealand tore a jib sheet.

The fact that the two remain so competitive will be of comfort to both teams.

After the last America's Cup Oracle were in the stronger position, having secured funding and a strong crew.

The loss of key afterguard members John Kostecki and Gavin Brady has hurt them in recent times but to have a newly formed afterguard performing so well will give them plenty of confidence.

Team New Zealand, on the other hand, had to put together virtually a new syndicate and also had to grapple with the disaster of NZL82.

To end the year with a hard- fought victory over Oracle will please syndicate head Grant Dalton, especially as it was a win in which his team's flawless crew-work and composure under pressure came through.

Oracle, with 10 New Zealanders on board, secured the favoured side of the start line and punched over at speed.

Trailing their opponents by six to seven boat lengths, it didn't look good for Team New Zealand early on, but they managed to net a nice shift at the end of the beat and rounded the top mark on Oracle's stern. The gap was further closed when Oracle completed a rare, less than perfect spinnaker hoist.

A lefthand shift then came Team New Zealand's way and they powered into the lead, rounding the second mark ahead.

Oracle attacked all the way up the beat and at the top of the course pushed Team New Zealand out and sneaked around first.

On the run to the finish NZL82, in the windward position, rolled its opponent for the second time to regain the lead.

Trailing Team New Zealand by a good four or five boat lengths, Dickson threw gybe after gybe at the Kiwis and did all he could to spoil their air.

Just metres from the finish Oracle caught a huge wave which gobbled up the deficit and placed the boats side by side. But it was the black bow of NZL82 that crossed first by just 3s.

Oracle grinder Craig Monk conceded Team New Zealand had outsailed his team downwind.

"They did a better job than us with all the little things, like the top mark hoist and getting downwind and catching waves."

Although it was a good win, Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson remains wary of the American boat. "That is a dangerous team. They have a lot of assets and a lot of good sailors. If they put it all together we will have to continue to up our game to beat them.

"But I guess for this year you smile and take the short-term gain and feel good about it, but it is just that, short-term."

In their other race of the day, Team New Zealand had an easy win over Mascalzone Latino after the Italian syndicate were forced to withdraw in the opening minutes of the race with gear failure.

South Africa's Team Shosholosa secured their third match-racing win of the year, beating Germany in a race that was marred by continuous gear failure.

Meanwhile, defenders Alinghi remain the only unbeaten team. The Swiss had a comfortable win over Victory Challenge in their first race and an even more comfortable one over Luna Rossa, who were forced to retire, in their second race.

TEAM NZ OPPONENTS

* Overnight: v Victory Challenge, v +39
* Tomorrow: v Alinghi, v China