Yachting: Prada bullets still worry Black Magic

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Even after deflecting Prada's silver bullet with one arm yesterday, Team New Zealand reckon they still don't know where they stand in the shootout for the America's Cup.

That sounds hard to believe.

After all, the Kiwis - showing off little innovations all over their black boat - had the better of the Italians upwind and down in the opening race for the world's oldest trophy.

Both defender and challenger were saying the boats - black and silver - appeared equal in speed, even after Black Magic won by 1m 17s.

Team New Zealand trimmer Simon Daubney, an old hand at this game, would not be drawn into making bold claims about the black boat's power.

"Okay, after today we know we can win a race in 10 to 12 knots of shifty winds," he said. "But we're going to have to see how we perform in heavy air, waves and ever lighter air."

Prada, obviously, were not about to write off their chances in this best-of-nine series.

Said skipper Francesco de Angelis: "I don't have the feeling that one boat is much better than the other one. They were able to protect the right. On this kind of day, the boat in front is able to keep gaining. But it was very interesting to end all the guessing, the first time the boats sailed in the same piece of water."

And so much for Team New Zealand's five-year fear that they would be handicapped in the America's Cup without anyone to race before the big day.

Team New Zealand sailed a precise and error-free race first time out of the blocks; the Italians, with almost 50 Cup races behind them, were at times like a day-old foal, hesitant and a little awkward.

Prada executed a beautiful start, coming from dead in the water to slice by the left end of the mark a few seconds ahead.

The Italians had the edge as the boats sailed together towards the right layline. But two-thirds of the way up the beat, Prada made a critical misjudgment.

Four times, as the two boats met, Prada tacked away. At least once - the second meeting - Luna Rossa could have crossed in front and claimed the favoured right-hand side.

"The second cross was our best chance, but it was still very scary to cross them, especially against those very experienced guys," said Prada tactician Torben Grael. "We knew the right had more pressure, we wanted to cross, but we didn't succeed."

Each time they came together, Team New Zealand chipped away at Prada's lead, until they worked their way in front.

They were 22s ahead at the top mark, and stretched to 36s at the bottom. Grael chastised his crew for taking too long manoeuvring, as they crawled around the mark.

The two boats split on the next beat, and the Kiwis' lead grew to over a minute. But downhill, the Italians sucked up the wind pressure and took more than half their lead away.

But as the boat in front, Team New Zealand dictated the race, covering Prada's every move.

The New Zealanders had plenty on show yesterday - their odd-shaped bow, a new mast with fewer spreaders, deeper sails, an internal communication system between the brains trust and the bow.

Nothing was a surprise to de Angelis: "Something that looks strange sometimes works well in a certain package.

"We have to wait for more conditions - waves and strong breeze - then assess what is the difference between the two boats."