Yachting: Team NZ lose ground

NZL 82 skippered by Dean Barker. Photo / NZ Herald

Team New Zealand, with the Med Cup yachting title already secured, have their work cut out to finish the season off with a flourish by winning the final event in Italy.

NZL380's crew today ended the coastal race in the Region of Sardinia Trophy regatta in sixth place among the 10-strong fleet to drop to fourth on the points table, 14.5 points behind leaders Matador of Argentina.

Matador consolidated their front-running position at Calgiari by winning the 28.5-nautical-mile contest staged in light to moderate sea breezes that built to 12 knots.

The start proved important and set the order for the first mark, which the Argentines rounded in front.

Team NZ cannot be headed for the overall series title, which they have now won in both seasons they have contested the TP52 circuit.

They have four more races over the next two days off Sardinia to try to try to work their way back up the fleet and grab what would be their seventh victory in 10 regattas over the past two years.

Skipper Dean Barker said the afterguard did not performed well today, although the crew work was great.

He said Team NZ got off to a good start, but then lost a couple places when the wind moved left, and they rounded the top mark in sixth spot.

They made ground on the run, but a last minute change of call at the bottom mark proved costly and they dropped to seventh.

"We got back into them towards the end but it was too late," Barker said.

Tactician Ray Davies' own assessment a blunt one.

"I didn't have a good day at all which showed in the result."

Team NZ boss Grant Dalton said the aim at the start of the season was a successful defence of the series championship.

"We achieved that yesterday, a day earlier than last year, and then the burning issue immediately became this regatta," he said.

"I talked to the boys after the race. They were not happy but their focus is on the four races that remain. Better breeze is forecast and they are intent on getting back up there."

- NZPA