Duchess Kate beats Prince William in New Zealand yacht race

By Nardine Saad

April 11, 2014 12 AM PT

It’s Team Kate for the win! The former Kate Middleton sailed past husband Prince William in a yacht race during their New Zealand tour on Friday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge set sail with Team New Zealand around Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor in two America’s Cup yachts after doing a bit of posh trash-talking.

“Take care!” she teased her husband, patting him on the back, according to People.

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“Yeah, see you later,” replied William, the second in line to the British throne.

Kate, 32, who grew up sailing, handled a 31-foot yacht under the guidance of Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker and beat William in not one but two three-mile races around a series of buoys. The wins made up for her loss to the duke during the Dragon Race, when the newlyweds visited Canada in 2011.

Earlier in the day, the duke and duchess met with local members of the air force and their families. Kate wore a ME+EM striped shirt under a Zara blazer that she paired with skinny Zara jeans. The duchess later swapped out the blazer for a sailing jacket and her wedges for flat boat shoes when they set off for the race.

“We were sabotaged,” William, 31 said (via the Daily Mail) when they returned to the dock, agreeing with onlookers that his wife was looking quite pleased with herself. “I bet she is! Selfless husband! I wanted a quiet night.”

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Following their fierce competition, the royals took a ride across the harbor in an amphibious Sealegs boat, which they took turns steering. They were presented with a miniature inflatable version of the seacraft for their son, the Mail reported.

The couple, who touched down in Wellington on Monday with Prince George, rubbed noses with local elders in the Maori tradition when they first arrived.

They reportedly slept off their jet lag at the luxurious Wharekauhau Lodge in Palliser, situated on the New Zealand coast, according to Hello. The royals and their nearly 9-month-old son enjoyed a playdate Wednesday with other parents and kids at Government House, where George played with some local tots and smiled broadly for the cameras. By the way, the little prince now has four teeth, his proud dad said, according to the Mirror.

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On Thursday, the duke and duchess also took part in a wreath-laying ceremony after a walkabout in Seymour Square in Blenheim. There, the film fans met with director Peter Jackson, who shot “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” films on the island nation.

The couple also unveiled an official portrait of William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, by New Zealand artist Nick Cuthell at Government House, where William met with Prime Minister John Key.

On Saturday, the prince is set to visit Pacific Aerospace, and his wife will appear at the Rainbow Place Children’s Hospice. They’ll also open the Cambridge velodrome in Hamilton and visit Cambridge War Memorial, the Mail said.

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The couple will then set out for Australia, where they’ll conclude their three-week tour on April 25.

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