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Team New Zealand's dominance of Luna Rossa off Valencia has raised speculation about just how fast their yacht is.
Team NZ are up 4-0 and sit one win away from claiming the right to challenge Swiss defenders Alinghi for the America's Cup.
After a tight race one in
the challengers' final against Luna Rossa, skipper Dean Barker and his crew have won every other contest by a comfortable margin.
Team NZ have sported some new sails, but have said they have not made major changes to NZL92 before the series.
Adam Beashel, who works the traveller and also goes up the mast to spot the wind, has played down the issue whether NZL92 had a speed edge on ITA94.
"We don't say that we show better speed," he said.
"We say that we are at least even with them. We're happy with an even boat race with anybody at the moment."
Beashel said the way the Team NZ crew were performing meant they would be content with a boat that was equal to that of their opponents.
"If we can keep sailing the way we are, I think we're going to be hard to beat if we can match anyone's speed."
The four races so far against Luna Rossa have been held in winds under 14 knots. The readings were particularly light for the last two races, being in single figures.
Today's contest, where the margin of victory was 52 seconds, was sailed in a tricky six to nine-knot breeze and Luna Rossa mainsail trimmer Jonathan McKee said the conditions suited NZL92.
"For sure they are going well, especially in that wind range," he said.
"They have always been fast in that wind range so it's not really a surprise to us."
ITA94 liked a bit more puff, but McKee also agreed that Luna Rossa's crew had been outclassed by their rivals.
"Aside from going well, they are also sailing well, so our hats off to them," he said.
"They've outsailed us so far this series and that's all you can say."
Today, Team NZ had to come from behind for the first time in the final and the key moment was up the first beat.
Luna Rossa had shot out to a four boat length lead at the first cross thanks to a windshift on the right-hand side of the course.
As the boats tacked away and then converged for the second time, the Italians chose not to cross in front on Team NZ, who had halved the gap after catching a windshift of their own on the left.
Instead, tactician Torben Grael opted to tack to leeward of NZL92 to protect the right.
However, as both boats continued on port tack, NZL92, sailing higher and faster, edged into a lead that it was not to relinquish.
Grael admitted that, with hindsight, he might have done things differently, but he thought at the time he had made the right call.
"We thought the right side was good and we tacked on what we thought was a safe position," he said.
"They hung up nicely on a leftie there with pressure. That pressure didn't come down to us and they made a huge gain in a short period. From there, it was hard for us to come back."
- NZPA
