KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand have beaten America's Cup defenders Alinghi 2-0 in a secret hitout in Valencia.
It is understood Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi sailed two full-length practice races on Friday night.
The website Sailing Anarchy reported that Team New Zealand won after trailing Alinghi over the start line both times.
In the first race Alinghi led at the top mark by 20s but were overtaken by Team New Zealand on the downwind run. Team New Zealand extended their lead up the second beat and won by 45s.
In the second race Team New Zealand got ahead on the first beat and won comfortably.
Neither of the syndicates would discuss the race or the results.
The hitout between the two has raised eyebrows in Valencia.
Some have questioned whether it was wise for Team New Zealand to race the defenders, saying they had now given Alinghi a true indication of their boat speed three months out from the America's Cup match, leaving the Swiss plenty of time to work on their weaknesses. That is provided that Alinghi weren't sandbagging.
But Team New Zealand are not the only challenger interested in racing Alinghi. When asked recently if his team would race Alinghi if given the chance, Desafio Espanol's New Zealand tactician John Cutler said yes.
"We would have no trouble racing Alinghi regardless of what the other challengers thought. If it is in our best interest then we would do it."
There is no rule that prevents the challengers from racing the defenders but in the past it been more of a gentleman's agreement.
In the lead-up to the 2000 Cup, America True skipper Dawn Riley said it would be silly for anybody to sail against the then defenders Team New Zealand. "We're all supposed to be the challengers joined in trying to take the cup off them."
In that cup Nippon raced Team New Zealand before the America's Cup match. Afterwards Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts commented how beneficial it was for his team.
As a result, none of the challengers raced the defenders in the last Cup.
However the introduction of the pre-regattas in this Cup has changed that. Over the past four years the challengers have regularly raced the defenders which has allowed them to learn about each other.
While most would argue that Alinghi have been the biggest beneficiaries, especially last year when they raced an old boat against the top three challengers' new boats, BMW Oracle Racing chief executive and skipper Chris Dickson is not so sure.
"Alinghi might be reasonably concerned that the acts [pre-regattas] have allowed the challengers to catch up to them," Dickson said.
"The acts have done a lot to level out the playing field."
CUP COUNTDOWN
April 3-7
Act 13, fleet racing regatta
April 16-May 7
Louis Vuitton Cup, challenger elimination series
May 14-24
Louis Vuitton Cup semifinals
June 1-12
Louis Vuitton Cup final
June 23-July 7
America's Cup
