Two wins lifted Team New Zealand to a share of second place in the pre-America's Cup yachting regatta in Sicily today.
The New Zealanders registered wins over Sweden's Victory Challenge and Italian syndicate +39 Challenge to trail holders Alinghi, of Switzerland, by one point.
Team New Zealand improved to six
wins from seven races, joining BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa on six points.
Team New Zealand and Victory Challenge rolled off the line even in seven to 12 knot southerly winds off Trapani.
The New Zealanders had a slight advantage to the left of the Swedes and skipper Dean Barker always had a speed edge in this race as he sailed away to win by a margin of one minute 30 seconds.
He and his crew then gained control over +39 Challenge in the pre-start and herded the Italians well over to the right of the start line.
Skipper Iain Percy sought refuge by using a media boat as a blocker, to get rid of Barker and find a clear path back to the start box.
However, +39 made a poor final approach to the line and the New Zealanders won the start.
The Italians gave Team New Zealand a fight up the first beat, trailing by only 18sec at the first mark and the margin stayed similar to the finish by which stage New Zealand's advantage was 19sec.
- NZPA
