Two more wins today for NZL 84, welcome points for Emirates Team New Zealand as the crew prepares for the much anticipated matches against the new yachts of BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa.

The matches today were against France and Sweden.

The weather today was similar to the season’s opening day – a light easterly never climbing much above 14 knots. However, the breeze off Valencia is shifty providing many subtleties for team meteorologists and the afterguard to master.

The team continued its policy of rotating crew with navigator Kevin Hall returning to the afterguard and trimmers Grant Loretz and James Dagg and grinders Chris Ward and Rob Waddell sailing for the first time in Act 10.

It was a tricky day for tactician Terry Hutchinson. “The breeze was shifty and difficult. In the first race we made a couple of good decisions early on which set us up and we were not troubled.”

“The Swedes were definitely more competitive but we got a couple of good shifts and managed to stretch out.”

The French boat – FRA 60 – is the Team New Zealand yacht that successfully defended the America’s Cup in 2000. But there was no nostalgia evident on board NZL 84 which took control from the start and went about building a lead and maintaining it.

While maintaining a loose cover on the French boat, NZL 84 extended the lead to around 350 metres and at the first windward mark was 52 sec ahead.

NZL 84 maintained a comfortable advantage down the first run rounding the leeward mark 1 min 11sec ahead. NZL 84 extended on the second beat and at the mark was 2min 2 sec ahead, setting up for an untroubled win with a final delta of 1min 29 sec.

The second race of the afternoon was against Sweden’s Victory Challenge (SWE 63). Fresh from a win against the South Africans in flight three, Sweden did not seriously challenge NZL 84.

As the Swedes rounded the first windward mark, NZL 84 was 250 metres into the first run, a lead which translated to 33 sec. They maintained the lead to the end of the second mark. On the second beat they got a nice shift and extended to 1 min 30 sec and 1min 39 sec at the finish.

Grant Dalton said he was pleased with the new yacht’s performance in the light breezes experienced so far. “The big test will come against the new boats of BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa.

“Those matches will be really hard racing and split seconds gained in slick crew work will be absolutely critical for a good result.

“We like the feel of NZL 84 but we’re not taking anything for granted. And we still think that Alinghi in an old boat can be very dangerous. We also have to sail against Spain and they’re having a good regatta.”

Tomorrow: Emirates Team New Zealand is matched first against BMW Oracle and then the China Team.

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