Yachting: Team NZ rue small but costly mistake

11.00am

Team New Zealand were ruing a small but costly mistake after a loss and a win on the opening day of match racing in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta in southern France.

In 12 to 14-knot winds off Marseille, they were beaten by American syndicate Oracle, before easily heading off South African newcomers Shosholoza.

Team NZ said NZL82 showed good upwind speed on the first beat against Oracle and, after a tacking duel at the top of the leg, rounded the top mark 19 seconds in front.

However, on the first run, the American boat demonstrated its downwind pace.

Two-thirds of the way down the leg, the yachts split and USA76 was able to claim the right-hand side, giving it the favoured left-hand side on the next beat.

At the top mark, Oracle had moved into a 25sec advantage, which was extended to 42sec at the finish.

Team NZ managing director Grant Dalton, who was on board NZL82, said the performance of the crew, who sailed together for the first time just last week, showed potential.

But there was disappointment at being beaten.

"It was a race we should not have lost, but I saw enough today to know that we have a very solid base for going forward," Dalton said.

"I don't want to be too hard on ourselves. But the fact is that we were in a winning position and we made a small mistake and, at this level of the sport, small mistakes are heavily punished."

Against Shosholoza, Team NZ won a close start, before pulling away on the first leg to lead by 1min 18sec at the top mark.

The South Africans closed the margin on the first run, but the New Zealanders went further ahead on each of the last two legs to win by 2min 1sec.

Oracle and America's Cup defenders Alinghi ended the day as the only teams in the six-boat fleet with two wins.

Three more rounds of matchracing will be held over the next two days.

- NZPA