KEY POINTS:
Dean Barker stood unmoving at the helm of NZL84. Reflected in his sunglasses was the equally determined Chris Dickson at the wheel of BMW Oracle Racing's USA87.
It was July last year, the semifinals of a pre-regatta in Valencia. With the score tied at one-all in the best of three series this was the decider.
What followed was one of the most thrilling races in America's Cup history as the two battled their way round the course side by side. Black boat next to grey boat. Barker next to Dickson.
A gybe performed with clinical precision helped to seal the win for Emirates Team New Zealand. Their 11-second victory the largest margin between the two sides in the whole race.
A taste of things to come in the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup? Many predict so.
This America's Cup is the first where all five continents are represented. China Team and Shosholoza have brought Asia and Africa to the fray.
They join three Italian syndicates, BMW Oracle from the United States and crews from Germany, Spain, Sweden and France as well as the Kiwis and Swiss defenders Alinghi.
The race course off Valencia will challenge all 12 teams. The wind is reliable but tends to be light and fickle. It will force teams to shadow their opponents' every move just in case an unexpected shift breezes through. The introduction of the pre-regattas - there have been 13 throughout Europe in the past three years - has allowed the syndicates to get an insight into not only the venue but also their rivals. As a result the playing field has levelled out and the bar has been raised. This America's Cup could actually come down to a sailing race.
For the 17 men on board that means starting well, putting the boat in precisely the right place on the course in the flighty breeze and ensuring spinnaker hoists and drops happen like clockwork.
Breakages simply cannot occur.
The boats are expected to be similar in performance but they are different in makeup. Designers have gone for different hull shapes, sail shapes, rigs and keel bulbs. As to who has got it right, only time will tell.
It is hard to believe it is four years since the Russell Coutts-helmed Alinghi lifted the cup off an ill-prepared, inexperienced and designer-led Team New Zealand.
A lot has changed since then. The new Emirates-sponsored Team New Zealand is now headed by Grant Dalton, renowned for his round-the-world race exploits and no-nonsense persona. Alongside him is experienced yachtie Kevin Shoebridge, the team's director of sailing and operations. Between them they have sailed the globe nine times and conquering some of the world's wildest water. The new Team New Zealand are clearly richer in experience than the last campaign. They are also sailor rather than design led. Last year it was Team New Zealand's black boat NZL84 which set the benchmark. Team New Zealand will go into the challenger series one of the favourites, alongside BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa.
Those three are expected to battle it out for the number one spot in the round robin competition - which earns them the right to choose their semifinal opponent. Another tussle is expected for the final semifinal spot. At the moment most punters' money would be on hometown favourites Desafio Espanol - a well-funded campaign which boasts plenty of experienced sailors.
Also in the running are Italy's Mascalzone Latino, Sweden's Victory Challenge and possibly even France's Areva Challenge. The harsh reality is that in just over five weeks seven teams will be eliminated.
While the challengers are battling away in the Louis Vuitton Cup, Alinghi will be slogging it out among themselves. Skippered by New Zealander Brad Butterworth, the Swiss are favoured to defend the America's Cup in late June.
Despite losing instrumental helmsman Russell Coutts, Alinghi have remained a step ahead of the challengers so far. But that can change in a second ...
