By SUZANNE McFADDEN
Frenchman Bertrand Pace has wasted no time trying to become a genuine Kiwi.
A week after arriving in his new country, the Team New Zealand coach and helmsman yesterday took the lead in the national matchracing championships on the Waitemata Harbour, around the corner from the waters where Pace
spent last summer.
Pace, a former world matchracing champion, lost only one clash yesterday - falling victim to fellow America's Cup skipper Chris Dickson.
Dickson topped the first round-robin, but suffered an upset loss to another Team NZ sailor, Phil Douglas, to drop one point behind Pace.
In the battle of the Team NZ helmsmen, Pace and Cameron Appleton engaged in a feisty pre-start.
Appleton was red-flagged for a professional foul, after barging the committee boat at the start-line trying to get the right side of the course. He never caught up after completing his penalty turn.
Appleton was pinged with the same penalty in the next race, against the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's youth crew, skippered by Ryan Houston. But this time, Appleton clawed back the deficit and overtook the youngsters on the run.
Prada helmsman Rod Davis had a mixed day - three wins and four losses - and sits three points behind Pace with Appleton.
Team NZ could still get their three entrants into the top four semifinals today, with Douglas just a point away from the cut with four races to go.
The national matchracing champion will get free entry into next year's Steinlager-Line 7 grand prix regatta in Auckland, the first stop on the Swedish Match world circuit.
