Yachting: Team NZ stretches lead

Team NZ in action during day four of the MedCup in Portugal. Photo / Chris Cameron, ETNZ

Team New Zealand has stretched its lead in yachting's MedCup competition in Portugal, taking out the 60km coastal race between Cascais and Lisbon, early today.

Skipper Dean Barker said NZL380 dominated the race, relishing the strong northerly winds which gusted over 25 knots.

Today's victory - Team New Zealand's first in a coastal race in six MedCup regattas - has given the defending champions a 14-point lead going into tomorrow's final two races.

"We've got a nice little buffer now," said Barker.

"It was a perfect course for us today, and we were determined to come out of the blocks firing."

At the finish directly off the Marina of Cascais breakwater, Team New Zealand crossed the line one minute and 30 seconds ahead of Matador, of Argentina.

The British Team Origin, second overall going into the race, finished ninth, and slipped to fourth place overall.

Barker said today's win further bolstered the team's confidence after a rocky start to the regatta.

"The most satisfying thing is the way we have bounced back from that disappointing first day - the guys have ground their way back into this regatta," he said.

- NZPA