Yachting: Sailing demons torment former Team NZ tactician

Victory Challenge (right) is chased by Emirates Team New Zealand during training in waters outside Malmo, Sweden. Picture / Reuters

Mascalzone Latino Capitalia tactician Hamish Pepper had to pause for a moment to consider whether he possibly had broken a mirror, walked under a ladder or done anything else that could have led to a period of bad luck.

The former Team New Zealand tactician, now with the Italian syndicate, probably thought all his sailing demons had been expelled during Team New Zealand's cup loss, which was riddled with equipment failure.

However, it was not the case on the opening day of the sixth America's Cup pre-regatta in Malmo which was marred by strong winds and bleak, cold and drizzly conditions.

Mascalzone were forced to withdraw from their opening two races with mainsail problems.

Their second withdrawal was quite dramatic. The boat first went backwards, then swayed around like an out-of-control washing machine.

"You can laugh about it now," Pepper said. "No one was injured so we were lucky there."

He said the failures were probably the result of old equipment.

But it was not just the Italians who had gear failure on the first day; nearly every team suffered some sort of malfunction.

The Emirates-sponsored Team New Zealand were fortunate to avoid a major catastrophe in their second race against China Team when the pinning broke on the end of their spinnaker pole, sending it and the spinnaker into the water.

The New Zealanders were in danger of being overtaken by their opponents but quick thinking saw the spinnaker cut free, a move which saved their lead.

Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson said that at one stage they had the pole down one side of the boat, the spinnaker down the other and about four knives going around the boat cutting things off to get it going straight again.

"It was kind of a little surreal. No one was yelling or screaming or anything.

"It was just kind of business as usual and do what we have got to do to get this thing out of here and get racing again," he said.

"It was good to be surrounded by good sailors. Fortunately they are Kiwis and they know what to do.

"For us that was as good a test as a close race."

Team New Zealand went on to win the race by 32s, adding to their convincing 1m 39s win over first flight opponents United Internet Team Germany.

They were scheduled to race Spain's Desafio Espanol and Mascalzone Latino overnight before tonight's meetings with Team Luna Rossa and with South Africa's Shosholoza.

The South Africans have veteran British sailor Chris Law at the helm.

While Mascalzone and Team New Zealand's problems lay with their boat, Italian Challengers +39 lost two men overboard who had to be retrieved by race officials in their match against Oracle.

The sailors were put back on the race boat but the team had to complete a 270 degree penalty as a consequence.

With Chris Dickson at the helm and Gavin Brady calling tactics, Oracle's new-look afterguard recovered from a slow start against Team Shosholoza to win their opening race by 1m 33s.

The South Africans led Oracle over the startline but couldn't match their speed upwind, trailing by 33s at the first mark.

Oracle won their second race against +39, ending the day alongside Team New Zealand, defenders Alinghi and Spain's Desafio Espanol with two wins from two races.