Yachting: Team NZ win series, but Oracle still first

Team New Zealand raced for survival in Plymouth's tough conditions, taking a points lead ahead of both Oracle crews. Photo / Chris Cameron

Team New Zealand have maintained their lead in the America's Cup World Series after the second round in Plymouth, England.

The Kiwi syndicate scored 19 out of a possible 20 points in both of the first two regattas in Cascais and Plymouth, to take a four-point lead over Oracle 4, skippered by Jimmy Spithill. Oracle 5, with Russell Coutts at the helm, and Artemis Racing are tied for third on 28.

Despite Emirates Team New Zealand taking the most points from the regatta, confusingly Oracle 4 were declared the overall winners in Plymouth after taking out the winner-takes-all final fleet race overnight.

But Team New Zealand were able to spoil the Oracle quinella, pipping Coutts for second place.

The blustery conditions on the final day of the regatta made life exceptionally tough on the sailors but provided plenty of thrills for the spectators, with several boats capsizing and lots of near-misses.

Barker said that with such challenging conditions, making it through the race unscathed was an achievement in itself.

"Today it was racing and survival. When the wind cranked in it was full on. The hard thing wasn't the wind speed but the big puffs, which were unpredictable," he said.

In the anxious minutes leading up to the start, Energy Team capsized trying to avoid Team Korea, although Loick Peyron's crew managed to get the boat upright very quickly and rejoin the race.

Moments later there was a dramatic collision when Artemis Racing rode up over the back of Green Comm Racing causing skipper Vasilij Zbogar to fall off the back of the Spanish boat and sustain a minor injury to his hand.

With their boat damaged in the collision, and carrying two penalties from pre-start collisions, Green Comm retired without crossing the start line.

Steering clear of trouble in the pre-start, the two Oracle Racing boats and Team New Zealand burst off the line, other teams following behind. At the first bear away, China Team capsized but managed to get up and running again.

In fact when Artemis capsized later in the race, Charlie Ogletree's Chinese team moved past and managed to cross the finish line in sixth, nine minutes and 54 seconds after the winner and just six seconds inside the finishing time limit.

It was a wild ride as boats touched speeds in excess of 50km/h, and while the Kiwis battled hard with the two Oracle boats, Spithill moved clear on the final lap and Barker had to satisfy himself with second place, ahead of Coutts.

Aleph came home in fourth, Team Korea following close behind.

The America's Cup World Series now moves to San Diego, with the first practice races on November 12.