Yachting: Unbeaten Team NZ to face defenders

Team New Zealand are set to go head to head with defenders Alinghi tonight in the second to last day of racing in act four of the America's Cup in Valencia.

The New Zealanders claimed two more wins over the weekend, beating Team Luna Rossa by 43s and +39 by 1m 08s.

They were expected to race Sweden's Victory Challenge and China Team overnight.

Like Emirates Team New Zealand, Alinghi, as of last night, were unbeaten in the match-racing regatta.

Having easily dismissed their early round opponents, the Swiss claimed their first big scalp over the weekend, beating Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing by 27s.

With American Peter Holmberg at the helm, Alinghi won the start and by the ninth minute of the race had close to a two-boat-length lead over their opposition.

Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth said it was a good one to win.

"We thought their pre-start was a little bit passive, but I think that both boats had a different plan and we were happy with the start, we got the better end of it," he said.

"There was a good left shift out of the start and it stayed in the left, so we were in a nice position to roll forward on them and in the end it was pretty close. They're hard to beat."

Butterworth said his team wanted to keep the momentum going.

"We don't want to drop a race to anybody and I think we have to keep the quality up and keep sailing well and the wins will come."

Team New Zealand's win over Team Luna Rossa was a little more dramatic. The Italians were awarded the start by 1s but trailed Team New Zealand for most of the leg, only to regain the lead after a classic luffing battle which took both yachts way above the mark.

But Team New Zealand rounded the mark 4s ahead, extending their lead to 12s at the second mark and 23s at the third.

On the run to the finish NZL82 extended by 20s to win by 43s.

Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said NZL82 had the speed for the light conditions and the crew worked well as a unit.

"The boat's better than it was last year but it's not super-fast," Dalton said "We had to work hard to gain an advantage on Luna Rossa and we had to work even harder to keep it."

Dalton said it was not difficult to see why Team Luna Rossa were one of the favourites for the 2005 regattas.

"They're a class act. The boat's good, and the crew is sailing well."

In their second race Team New Zealand had +39 breathing down their neck on the first three legs, rounding the first mark 14s ahead, the second mark 12s ahead and the third 16s ahead.

But they slipped away on the last downwind leg, finishing 1m 8s ahead after +39 had to complete a 360-degree penalty turn.

Like Alinghi, Team New Zealand are scheduled to face Team Shosholoza tonight. The South Africans have the only 2007- generation boat in the regatta but are having difficulty with their rig.

Team New Zealand's last race in the round robin is against Oracle tomorrow. Teams then have a break before a three-day fleet racing regatta starts on Friday.

Standings

Alinghi 6pts, Team New Zealand 6, BMW Oracle Racing 5, Luna Rossa Challenge 5, Desafo Espaol 2007 4, Victory Challenge 3,

+39 Challenge 2, K-Challenge 2, United internet Team Germany 1, China Team 1, Mascalzone

Latino-Capitalia Team 1, Team Shosholoza 0.