KEY POINTS:
Two years ago, the simple task of putting a rig in their new boat almost got the better of Team Shosholoza.
With oil oozing across the deck, nuts and bolts going everywhere, South Africa's first America's Cup challenge was on a hiding to nothing.
Yesterday in Valencia, they showed how much progress they have made by tipping over Italy's Luna Rossa.
The result went some way to making up for their previous race, in which they were leading Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing until a trawled spinnaker cost them the match.
The South Africans got the jump on Luna Rossa at the start. After rounding the first mark 17s ahead, Shosholoza's heavily modified RSA83 extended its lead on Luna Rossa's ITA94, winning by a comfortable 36s.
"We are getting a bit cocky these days, we thought we had a chance," Shosholoza's Ian Ainslie said.
"Hopefully our days of being nervous are over. We all stayed very calm. In the last few minutes we thought 'jeez we are going to win. This is fun'.
"But we are not going to get carried away. We have always said it is in our ability to get to a semifinal spot. It might have been a joke a few days ago but we believe it. But it is not going to be easy."
Team Shosholoza were to race Team New Zealand overnight.
Team New Zealand blew off France's Areva Challenge and Spain's Desafio Espanol yesterday.
The New Zealanders showed clear game plans in both prestarts and plenty of boat speed to take Areva Challenge by 1m 55s and Desafio Espanol by 1m 12s.
Team NZ strategist Ray Davies said they wanted to stick to their game plan, not allow too much separation and let the boat do the work.
"It is quite rewarding for us to have a bit of pace at times," he said.
"There is not much in it. The first cross with the Spanish we were bow to bow, but once we got control and could dictate what side of the course we wanted we were able to stretch it out."
Luna Rossa also lost to Oracle, giving them a none from two record for the day.
Little separated the pair around the race course, but Oracle's tactics were the match winner.
Dickson's team led by 8s at the first mark, 9s at the gate and 15s at the weather mark.
Despite a late run from Luna Rossa, Oracle held on to win by 6s.
Despite the two losses, Luna Rossa managing director Anthony Romano said they weren't worried about their boat speed.
"The boat is as fast as we hoped, the guys worked really well, there is nothing more to say."
Team New Zealand were to race Team Shosholoza and United Internet Germany overnight. If those races took place they face China Team and Luna Rossa tonight.
Points
After five of 11 flights in round one:
BMW Oracle Racing 13pts
Emirates Team New Zealand 10
Luna Rossa 9
Mascalzone Latino 8
Victory Challenge 8
Team Shosholoza 8
Desafio Espanol 7
Areva Challenge 5
United Internet Team Germany 3
+39 2
China Team 1
