By TERRY MADDAFORD
Team New Zealand continued its domination of the match-racing series on the Auckland Harbour yesterday despite difficult conditions, with last year's finalists, Bertrand Pace and Cameron Appleton, top of the points table after two days.
Three losses in a row - the result of what Dean Barker later tagged
a combination of poor decision-making and umpire's calls - cost the Team New Zealand boss his chance. But with seven wins from his 11 races in the first round-robin, he is still in the hunt for the Steinlager Line 7 Cup.
Light winds again delayed racing yesterday. Fluky winds and currents caused problems and led to course changes during the day.
A combination of damage to one of the MRX boats, a large fleet race up the harbour and the departure of a cruise liner brought an early halt leaving one flight of round-robin one and two resails - both involving Italian-based New Zealander Gavin Brady - to be sailed this morning.
"It was certainly a challenging day both at the start and around the course," said Appleton, who took some satisfaction in beating his Team NZ team-mate Pace by 41s after losing to the Frenchman 3-0 in last year's final. "I was happy to finish with four wins [from six races] today.
"The strength of the breeze was okay, but it was unsettled and a bit shifty. The tide here, as it was on the course we sailed nearer the bridge last year, is no better, no worse, but is always hard to work out."
Like all skippers, Appleton took notice of the matches ahead of him and set his game plan accordingly.
Against Rod Davis, both skippers headed towards the oil installation wharf before darting across the current to the top mark. At other times, a different course was sailed by skippers looking for the favourable side of the up-and-back race track.
Further down the field some skippers, who struggled on the first day, collected valuable points.
Italian Nicola Celon - winless from five races on the opening day - won three, including a comfortable 35s margin over British hope Andy Green yesterday. Dane Jesper Radich, who had one win on day one, had four yesterday to finish mid-fleet.
Swede Magnus Holmberg, who leads the Swedish Match Grand Prix Tour, won twice yesterday to finish with a five win-five loss record.
After the catch-up races this morning, all crews will head into a second 11-race round-robin. The top four go into the semifinals.
