Team NZ loses to Italia Challenge
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Unheralded Italia Challenge earned a surprise win over hosts Team New Zealand on Thursday in the Pacific Series sailing regatta for America's Cup teams.
Team New Zealand went unbeaten through the first round-robin phase of the regatta but was forced to lower its colors when it lost by 14 seconds to Cup racing newcomer Italia Challenge on the first day of the second stage.
The 10 competing teams have been split into two groups: the Gold Fleet comprising the top six teams and the Silver Fleet comprising the bottom four.
America's Cup-holder Alinghi avenged its loss to Britain's TeamOrigin in round-robin racing by winning the rematch Thursday by 15 seconds.
TeamOrigin led around the first three marks, but by only 2 seconds at the weather mark on the last lap. On the last run, downwind Alinghi charged over the top.
In the other Gold Fleet race, San Francisco's Oracle Racing beat Italy's Luna Rossa by 58 seconds, leading from start to finish.
Team New Zealand was outsailed Thursday by the Italian challenge which led around all marks.
The New Zealanders had the advantage of starboard entry in the prestart, and skipper Dean Barker used that advantage to chase opposing helmsman Francesco Bruni around the box before settling for a clean start leeward of the Italians.
Both yachts started at speed and the Italian crew headed for the port tack line, pursued 20 meters astern by Team New Zealand, before tacking with a slim lead.
There followed the first serious tacking duel of the regatta, with each crew throwing in 12 tacks, before the Italian team reached the top mark 11 seconds ahead. The Italians held off Barker over the remaining three legs of the race.
China Team began racing among the Silver Fleet with its first win of the regatta, by 55 seconds over Team Shosholoza of South Africa, while France's K-Challenge beat the Greek Challenge by 27 seconds.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
