Yachting: Team NZ maintain momentum

Formula One champion Michael Schumacher (R) was on board Team New Zealand in the race against +39. Photo / Reuters

Team New Zealand claimed another two wins in the challenger series this morning dismissing +39 and Areva Challenge in Valencia.

On board NZL92 as 18th person for their race against +39 was former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.

Against +39, Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker started to the left of his opponent and punched over the line at pace.

Up the first beat Team New Zealand blew the Italians away rounding the top mark 51 seconds ahead.

The Italians closed it up a little bit on the downwind run gaining 17 seconds. However the second upwind beat was a repeat of the first as NZL92 kicked up her heels and powered ahead.

Team New Zealand rounded the final mark 44 seconds ahead and went on to win by 45 seconds.

Team New Zealand were as dominant in their second race against France's Areva Challenge.

The New Zealanders led around every mark before winning by 59 seconds.

"It was two good races," Team New Zealand runner/pit Tony Rae said.

"We came off the line really well. Dean did a great job in the starts to get in front and then we protected our lead. It was shifty conditions and really tricky to stay in front especially in the first race."

Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing had to come from behind to win both their races this morning against Team Shosholoza and Victory Challenge.

Shosholoza hooked into a left hand shift on the first beat which allowed them to ease ahead and lead Oracle by 7s at the first mark and 9s at the gate.

However the Oracle afterguard spotted some pressure on the left on the second upwind leg which allowed them to cross the South Africans two boat lengths ahead.

Oracle rounded the third mark 24s ahead going on to win by 43 seconds.

Against Victory Challenge Oracle trailed the Swedes around the first two marks before pulling off a killer mark rounding at the end of the second upwind leg.

Little separated the two sides down the run but in the end it was Oracle who crossed the line 14s ahead.

In other races, with New Zealander Cameron Dunn at the helm Mascalzone Latino scored an important win over Desafio Espanol.

Team New Zealand face Desafio Espanol tonight.

Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup and bringbackthecup.co.nz