Yachting: Team NZ still in hunt despite loss

Don Cowie. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Emirates Team New Zealand slipped back in their short-term goal but strengthened their grip on the main prize of the Audi Med Cup title yesterday.

On the shifty day off Portimao, Portugal, skipper Dean Barker and his crew finished the coastal race in the Portugal Trophy regatta as runners-up behind Swedish boat Artemis.

The contest, on a 26.2-nautical-mile course in the Atlantic Ocean, carried extra points to the 10 other races scheduled in the regatta.

The result split the overnight tie between Team NZ and Artemis, the latter gaining a slim 1.5-point advantage with five races to go in the regatta.

However, in the primary battle for the Med Cup series title, Team NZ extended their already comfortable cushion at the top to 50 points over their nearest rivals, Argentina's Matador.

The Portugal Trophy is the fourth of five events on the circuit and mainsail trimmer Don Cowie said Team NZ's major focus was on the bigger picture.

"The bigger picture is the season's points, so it was a good one again today," he said. "If we walk away from this regatta second or third but still extending in season's points, that's great. If we walk away from here winning it, that's even better."

Team NZ were mid-fleet during the early part of the coastal race, with Matador making most of the early running.

Team NZ started to work their way up the fleet, as did Artemis, who made their big move on the penultimate leg, moving from fourth to first and sailing away from their pursuers, led by NZL380.

A wrong sail choice at the start of the downwind run resulted in Team NZ being passed by Artemis.

Artemis crossed after two hours 57 minutes and 44 seconds, with NZL380 39s behind and Matador 1m 22s further back.

Cowie said Team NZ were happy with how things had panned out, adding that the increased weighting of the coastal race meant a good performance had been more important than winning.

- NZPA