Emirates Team New Zealand got off to a solid start to the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series in Toulon on Saturday night as racing got under way in a very light and puffy Mediterranean breeze.
Starting well in the light wind was always vitally important and Emirates Team New Zealand, with Tauranga's Rio gold medalist Peter Burling back on the helm, was on the money at the start gun getting two strong starts at the windward end of the line in the first two races of the day eventually ending in two second places.
But it wasn't all about the starts on a course that was always open to big gains and big loses through being in the right position of the course and picking the ever-changing wind shifts.
Tactician Ray Davies spent the day perched on the bow of the Emirates Team New Zealand AC45 continually scanning the course ahead for the next indication of best breeze.
"It was certainly a day to keep your head out of the boat, the conditions were extremely testing out there," Davies said.