18 Nov 2010

Team NZ hands Oracle its first loss in Dubai

6:22 am on 18 November 2010

Team New Zealand has handed BMWOracle its first defeat of the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta at Dubai.

Oracle won the first race by 19 seconds but Team New Zealand won the second by just one second, making the most of a steady 11-13 knot sea breeze in classic, match race sailing.

Oracle leads with seven points and Team New Zealand is second on 3.5 after a jury penalty on Sunday.

With four days' racing gone and with a race in hand, Team New Zealand is half a point ahead of Artemis Racing, Synergy Russian Sailing Team and All4One with Mascalzone Latino on two points.