Yachting: Red-letter day for Russia in France

Team NZ maintained their 100 per cent record with a win over Sweden's Artemis. Photo / Chris Cameron, ETNZ

Team New Zealand maintained their frontrunning role today in the Louis Vuitton Trophy yachting regatta in the south of France, but the day belonged to Russia's Synergy.

Skippered by Pole Karol Jablonski, Synergy beat the French-German All4one off Nice to give a Russian team their first win in an America's Cup-class boat.

"This is a great victory and great day for Russia," team manager Maxim Logutenko said.

Only once in the America's Cup proper has a Russian syndicate tried to mount a challenge. That was in 1992, but the attempt didn't make the start line.

On Monday, Synergy had threatened a huge upset when they led Team NZ until just out from the finish line before hitting a hole and being passed.

Today, Synergy got the early jump off the start line when All4one became entangled with the race committee boat and went on to win by 1 minute 30 seconds.

Team NZ kept up their 100 per cent record with a 23-second victory over Sweden's Artemis, their fifth of the regatta.

Skipper Dean Barker and his crew led throughout after having controlled the start, targeting and getting the left hand side of the course.

Up the first beat, they won a tacking duel to round the top mark 15 seconds in front and extended their advantage over the remainder of the journey.

"All in all, we're pretty happy with the we've been sailing and still looking for improvements wherever we can," Barker said.

Team NZ will complete their programme in first round robin with matches against what on paper are their two toughest rivals - Americans Oracle and Britain's Team Origin.

The latter, skippered by former Team NZ back-up helmsman Ben Ainslie, are the only other unbeaten entry in the eight-strong fleet, having sailed one race fewer.

The Nice regatta is the first in the inaugural Louis Vuitton Trophy match-racing world series, with the next stop being in Auckland in March.

- NZPA