THE SIDELINES : N.Z. Yacht Holds Narrow Lead
<i> From Times wire services</i>
AUCKLAND, New Zealand —
New Zealand yacht Steinlager II held a narrow lead tonight as the leading yachts in the third leg of the Whitbread round-the-world ocean race neared Auckland.
Steinlager II, winner of the first two legs of the 33,000-nautical-mile race, held a lead of two nautical miles over New Zealand rival Fisher and Paykel, skippered by Grant Dalton, as the leaders rounded Cape Reinga, 180 nautical miles from Auckland.
Race officials said the leaders could reach Auckland as early as Friday afternoon after sailing 3,434 nautical miles from Fremantle in Western Australia.
Six miles behind Fisher and Paykel in third place was the British sloop Rothmans, skippered by Lawrie Smith.