Yachting: Team NZ maintain 100 per cent record

Team NZ beat Azzurra by 35 seconds in France today. Photo / Chris Cameron, ETNZ

Team New Zealand remained unbeaten and at the top of the leaderboard today after their fourth win in the Louis Vuitton World Series yachting regatta in the south of France.

On the first full day of competition off Nice, Team NZ beat previously undefeated Italian rivals Azzurra by 35 seconds.

The result left just two crews with 100 per cent records after day four, the other being Britain's Team Origin, who have had one race fewer because of the weather-affected schedule.

Against Azzurra, the Team NZ afterguard controlled the start, getting the side they wanted by forcing the opposition out to the committee end of the line.

Azzurra crossed early, while Team NZ bowman Jeremy Lomas was on the spot with his time-on-distance call.

Up the first beat, skipper Dean Barker sailed conservatively, maintaining a loose cover on the Italians and building up a 28-second margin by the first mark.

Team NZ boss Grant Dalton said the breeze was the most settled for the regatta so far.

He praised the work of his crew at the pre-start but also said Azzurra kept plugging away and keeping things tight.

"It surprised me that we didn't sail away more than we did," he said.

"We didn't underestimate Azzurra even though they're a new team and they certainly didn't let us down."

- NZPA