View photosKEY POINTS:
Prestart
Advantage Team NZ: 1s
Dean Barker won the start as Team New Zealand secured what they felt was the favoured right-hand side of the course. The Kiwis entered the start box with starboard advantage and held the dial up before diving away to protect the right.
Barker
gybed in behind Alinghi as the two boats dived down to time their run to the start line and Barker controlled Ed Baird, who was forced to start to leeward of the black boat.
Dean Barker 1 Ed Baird 0.
First upwind leg
Advantage Alinghi: 13s
Both boats emerged from the start line on starboard tack and the much-anticipated drag race got under way. Team New Zealand held a small advantage but tacked away first as the breeze appeared to shift to the left.
Alinghi then held a slim advantage until the crucial first cross, when they were able to force Team New Zealand back to the right-hand side of the course. A tacking duel unfolded, with the Swiss making small gains with each tack in the choppy conditions. Barker kept the game close, and reduced the gap slightly towards the top mark.
First downwind leg
Advantage Alinghi: 20s
Both boats appeared to be as quick as the other downwind. Team New Zealand tried to affect Alinghi's air flow but couldn't get close enough to make a difference in the 11-14 knot breeze.
TNZ had been confident they might hold an edge downwind, although the Swiss were equally happy, and it was a game of nip and tuck as each team tried to read the small wind shifts.
The Kiwis closed what was already a tight game up when they were allowed a small separation, but Alinghi recovered that and added a gain of their own heading down to the second mark.
Second upwind leg
Advantage Alinghi: 14s
Alinghi held a comfortable lead at the halfway stage of the race and headed to the right side of the course to assume starboard advantage. But TNZ made gains and reduced the gap from more than 140m to less than one boat-length before Alinghi surged ahead again in the tacking duel. Neither boat appeared to hold a significant advantage upwind in conditions that many predicted would suit the Swiss.
Finish line
Alinghi win by 35s
Team New Zealand tried to disrupt the airflow of Alinghi but couldn't quite get close enough to ride over the top of the Swiss. Alinghi looked slick as they headed to the finish line and, worryingly for the Kiwis, opened up their advantage.
Barker tried to attack to force a separation in the hope they could pick up greater pressure on a different part of the course but Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth is a wily, silver fox and covered the Kiwis' every move.
Many had wondered whether the more battle-hardened New Zealanders would hold an advantage in crew-work but both teams were flawless in difficult and choppy conditions.
Alinghi secured first blood but it was in conditions that are believed to be perfect for SUI100. TNZ will hope for lighter breezes tomorrow.
