16 Apr 2012

Team NZ losses overall lead to James Spithill's Oracle

6:47 am on 16 April 2012

Emirates Team New Zealand has lost the overall America's Cup World Series lead to James Spithill's Oracle Racing after the final round of racing in Naples yesterday.

Luna Rossa had a thrilling win in the final fleet race to vault up the Fleet Racing overall standings.

James Spithill and his Oracle crew, who appeared to be dead and buried in last place early in the race, recovered and claimed an impressive second place, ahead of Team New Zealand who came in third.

By placing second in the fleet racing and seventh in the match racing, one place ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand, Oracle Racing Spithill leapt into the overall lead in the World Series season championship with two events remaining.

Earlier the Match Racing Championship was decided when Artemis Racing took advantage of a pre-start mistake by Luna Rossa to sail away with a win in the sudden-death final.