Yachting: Team NZ third in final event

Team New Zealand race during the latest Med Cup event. Photo / Chris Cameron ETNZ

Team New Zealand were today formally crowned Med Cup yachting champions again, becoming the first entry in the circuit's six-year history to win the title in successive years.

Team NZ had built up an unassailable series lead midway through this week's season-ending regatta in Italy and their final margin over closest pursuers Quantum Racing of the United States was a dominant 48.5 points.

However, skipper Dean Barker and his crew fell short in their second objective at Cagliari, which was to sign off with a flourish by also winning the Region of Sardinia Trophy.

The weather over the past two days curtailed Team NZ's chances of making up ground after an up-and-down first three days.

There was no racing on Friday for the fleet of TP52s and just one contest yesterday in blustery Mistral winds of more than 28 knots, with NZL380 crossing the finish line third to end the regatta in third spot.

Argentine boat Matador were comfortable winners of the Sardinia Trophy, while French-German team All4One pipped Team NZ as runners-up on a countback after taking out the final race.

Team NZ have indicated that they will not be returning to the Med Cup next year, with their focus shifting to preparing to challenge for yachting's biggest prize after confirmation this month that the next America's Cup would be held in 2013.

Over the past two years, Barker and his crew have dominated the circuit, winning six of the 10 regattas, including four straight last year.

"This is such a nice feeling to be able to come back and be very successful again this year," Barker said.

"No question that the standard is much higher than last year, but I think the strength of the team has been sailing consistently all the year through."

Tactician Ray Davies said Team NZ's success was the result of contributions from throughout the syndicate, such as the shore crew, whose attention to detail provided the sailors with a boat that didn't have any significant breakages in 44 races over two years.

"From the start, the design and the concept of the boat has been right, just better than the others," he said.

"Between us on the boat there is really good trust, an exceptional group and we have never changed a single crew member. It has been a really good, solid team."

- NZPA