21 Jul 2009

Superstition hands New Zealand second place in MedCup warm up race

6:39 pm on 21 July 2009

Team New Zealand has finished second in the official practice race before the third round of the MedCup circuit in Sardinia thanks to superstitious crews on two leading yachts.

NZL380 was trailing Matador of Argentina, Bigamist from Portugal and the Swedish yacht Artemis.

But crews on Matador and Bigamist gave in to the superstition that the practice race winner loses the regatta, sailing past the end of the finish line, and leaving Artemis to win from NZL380.

Team New Zealand's boss Grant Dalton says it's a tight course and conditions for are forecast to be similar today's, with shifting sea breezes up to nine knots.