30 Jun 2012

Team NZ capsize in first race at America's Cup regatta

7:11 am on 30 June 2012

Team New Zealand has made the worst possible start to the final Americas Cup world series catamaran regatta in Newport, Rhode Island, capsizing in their first race.

The capsize occurred at the top mark against Italian team Luna Rossa Piranha when Team New Zealand was leading.

Gear failure led to a sail problem as they rounded the mark causing them to capsize and leaving skipper Dean Barker and his crew on their side for an hour.

The wing sail has been severely damaged but Barker is confident they can repair it and resume racing.

Barker says when they capsized during practice in Auckland they managed to right the boat in three or four minutes.

But a wing extension fitted to the top of the rig for better light-air performance filled with water making it difficult to get the boat back upright.