Around 150 spectator boats turned out on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf today to watch the first of the America's Cup
challenger races.
The weather was picture perfect off Auckland's East Coast Bays.
Around 20 official patrol boats, police craft and two coastguard vessels ensured spectators obeyed the rules and kept
away from the match races.
Seven countries set sail with eleven teams to the start line and today's Round Robin One will see the offshore battles
continue over the next four months in the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination series.
The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will compete against Team New Zealand for the ultimate race in a best-of-nine series
for the hallowed Americas Cup. Those races will begin February next year.