3.00pm
Russell Coutts, skippering Alinghi, handed James Spithill and the OneWorld crew their first loss of the Louis Vuitton Cup in a close contest this afternoon.
Coutts nearly avoided the initial dial-up in the pre-start, heading up and above Spithill immediately after entering the start box.
But the OneWorld crew soon began chasing the Swiss boat, and Coutts used the spectator fleet to peel the American boat off his transom.
Both boats turned back for the starting line early, and after burning the extra time, Spithill started with speed right at the pin end, while Coutts started on his weather hip and tacked away.
That tack would prove to make all the difference, as the wind shifted slightly to the right and when the boats converged again, SUI-64 enjoyed a two boat-length lead that translated into a 22-second margin at the windward mark.
USA-67 gained on each downwind leg when Coutts allowed Spithill some separation, ensuring Alinghi never enjoyed more than a 29-second lead.
But Coutts sailed a very tight upwind race with the lead, never giving Spithill a passing lane.
Winds: NNE 8-13k
Winning margin: 00.27
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Alinghi ends OneWorld's unbeaten run
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