Yachting: Team NZ lose finals opener

Team New Zealand have given Russian team Synergy a head start in the finals of Louis Vuitton Trophy yachting round at La Maddalena, Sardinia.

Dean Barker lost the first of three races this morning (NZT) after dominating the first three legs of the race.

Synergy skipper Karol Jablonski guided his boat through at the last top mark and then held off Team NZ for the win.

"It was a bit disappointing (after) a really good start and good first beat," Team NZ tactician Ray Davies said.

"We had a bad gybe set, but were still comfortably ahead. The left gate was closer, but it wasn't a nice rounding.

"We took the favoured gate but coughed up quite a lot. He (Jablonski) was getting good pressure on the left and we protected the wrong side on the second beat...

"Those guys sailed a really good race... We let ourselves down a bit. It wasn't our smoothest day on the water."

The remaining two races of the final will be raced tomorrow morning.

- NZPA