Yachting: Team NZ off the pace

Whatever the nautical equivalent of being brought back to earth with a bump is, New Zealand experienced it on the second day of racing in the MedCup yachting series regatta at Cagliari, Sardinia.

Yesterday the Dean Baker-skippered crew racked up three wins from as many starts on the opening day of competition.

On the second day, the New Zealanders picked up a fifth and fourth place and saw their lead trimmed to a scant point over Argentinian entry Matador.

Matador proved the most consistent performer on the second day of racing, picking up a first and second place in gentle sea-breeze conditions after reading the difficult first windward-legs well.

New Zealand mast-man Grant Dalton said the crew did well to finish strongly in both races.

"We were deep in both races and... if you are deep you are not going to win the race," Dalton said.

"But, number one, you try not to make the situation worse which is not hard to do. All we could do was try and recover, which we did."

He said New Zealand's winning treble yesterday was an exceptional day.

"We have been in the situation before with other campaigns when you go from great days but nothing changes, we just keep on doing what we have been doing."

The regatta is the third of five in the circuit, and New Zealand leads not only the Cagliari regatta, but also the season-long MedCup series, which is sailed in TP52s.

The New Zealanders' overall lead has been eroded, although they still hold onto first with 77.5 points, ahead of Matador on 96.5 and the United States team Quantum Racing (110.5).

- NZPA