Yachting: Team NZ take early lead

Team NZ beat Franco-German boat All4one in today's race. Photo / Chris Cameron, ETNZ

Team New Zealand today grabbed the early lead in the Louis Vuitton World Series' inaugural event with their second win in the yachting regatta in the south of France.

They beat All4one in an uncontested finish off Nice, with the Franco-German boat having to withdraw midway through the race when the webbing holding the mainsail aloft failed.

Team NZ are one of three undefeated crews in the eight-strong fleet in the two-week match-racing event.

The two others are Sweden's Artemis and Britain's Team Origin, who have both been able to complete just one race so far because of unsettled weather on the first two days.

Team NZ tactician Ray Davies said light winds made for tricky sailing conditions.

"This can be a very variable place," he said.

"With the potential for the Mistral wind on either side, it creates very different conditions, but that's what we expected."

The America's Cup-style regatta is being sailed in two boats lent by Italian syndicate Mascalzone Latino.

The World Series follows a successful one-off Louis Vuitton Pacific Series event in January and February, won by Team NZ in Auckland.

The second regatta of the new circuit will be in Auckland next March.

- NZPA