By SUZANNE McFADDEN
New Zealand's top sailors are determined to do what the All Blacks could not - hold on to their lead and pip Australia for the offshore regatta of the year, the Kenwood Cup.
The three-boat Kiwi team overtook the Australians yesterday with three races to be sailed off Hawaii.
In
idyllic sailing conditions, New Zealand boats Sea Hawk, Air NZ High 5 and Big Apple III finished in the top five in both races, to grab a four-point lead.
Sea Hawk, the Japanese-owned Farr 47, is leading the New Zealand charge as top boat in the 27-strong fleet. With Ray Davies at the wheel and Team NZ crewmen on board, Sea Hawk scored a second and a third. Big Apple - driven by Team NZ skipper Dean Barker - also notched up a second place.
But it was American yacht Esmeralda, with Stars & Stripes America's Cup helmsman Ken Read driving, that could not be headed yesterday, winning both races in the 20-knot trade winds. However, the US team were knocked out of the overall running when one of their boats, Orion, was badly damaged in a collision, forcing it out of the regatta.
New Zealand must defend their lead in two short-course races today, before the longest race of the series, the 148-mile Molokai Race, where points are trebled.
