Yachting: Team NZ gain as light winds lead to tight racing

Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling in action. PHOTO/CHRIS CAMERON

The breeze was light again on the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series seventh round at Nice yesterday.

Seven races were sailed and once again the 4-7 knot breeze gave teams mixed results. By the end of the day, the fleet was still tightly bunched with less than 20 points separating the top eight teams.

Emirates Team New Zealand advanced to second overall from its overnight fifth equal.

That came as something of a surprise for New Zealand helm Peter Burling. The Tauranga sailor says they started the day relatively well, but slipped a little towards the end.

"We all felt that the day could have gone much better," he said. "I was surprised to learn when we came ashore that we were second on the board. I didn't think we had had such a great day and thought we would be a bit further back on the scoreboard. We're only a few points off the lead, so we're really happy to be in touch and to still be improving."

Realteam on 92 points retains the lead, with Emirates Team New Zealand eight behind on 84. Gazprom Team Russia is third on 82. In the quick-fire format of the Extreme Sailing Series, margins like that can evaporate in a couple of races.

For Burling and the crew Glenn Ashby, Jeremy Lomas, Blair Tuke and Edwin Delaat there is another debrief ahead to fine-tune tactics for the persistent light conditions.

Extreme Sailing Series Nice
Standings after day two of 15 races

1st Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 92 points
2nd Emirates Team New Zealand 84 points
3rd Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 82 points
4th Alinghi (SUI) 81 points
5th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 75 points
6th GAC Pindar (AUS) 75 points
7th The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 74 points
8th Oman Air (OMA) 73 points
9th Groupama sailing team (FRA) 71 points
10th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 66 points=
11th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 66 points