Yachting: Team NZ win re-match against Oracle

A red-flag penalty helped Team NZ defeat Oracle by 54 seconds at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta in Italy. Photo / Chris Cameron, ETNZ

Team New Zealand won their re-match against BMW Oracle at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta in Italy on Sunday after forcing a red-flag penalty on their opponents.

Team New Zealand won the race by 54 seconds after the penalty turned what had been a close race in the favour of Dean Barker's yacht.

Team New Zealand led by just six seconds at the first two marks, but Barker forced a penalty on Oracle while the yachts were almost bow to bow.

A red flag penalty was awarded, and Oracle was forced to do another penalty turn after the umpires ruled they had not completed the first one.

It was a re-sail of a race which ended when the umpires penalised Team New Zealand. The New Zealanders protested, but though it was rejected, the umpires and the jury recommended the race be abandoned.

Sunday's race was the only one of six scheduled races to be completed after a building mistral wind brought the racing to an end. Racing today has also been cancelled due to the mistral.

- NZPA