Yachting: Team NZ share honours

Team New Zealand in action. Chris Cameron / ETNZ

Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing won one race each in a high-powered duel which highlighted the fourth day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy yachting regatta off Dubai today.

United States giants Oracle won the first race by 19 seconds to remain comfortably on top of the standings although Team New Zealand bounced back to pip them in the second by just 1 second.

In steady 11-13 knots of breeze, two evenly-matched teams prodcued close racing, with victory set up in the pre-start on both occasions. The leading boat benefitted from the breeze on the right side of the course on the beats and defended aggressively, shutting down the options for the trailing yacht.

"We pushed hard in the first race but couldn't get around them," Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said.

"The second was very tough, especially when they got better breeze in the left on the runs and whittled away our lead. It was a tough race - and a good one to win."

Standings after four days of racing:

BMW Oracle Racing 7 wins-1 loss 7pts 1, Team New Zealand 4-3 3.5* 2, Artemis Racing 3-4, 3 3, Synergy Russian Sailing Team 3-5 3 4, All4One 3-5, 3 5, Mascalzone Latino, 3-5, 2 6

- NZPA