Emirates Team New Zealand won the first race of the Louis Vuitton Cup final today.

NZL 92 led from the start, but it was always close, never comfortable as the Luna Rossa crew probed the defences and when the opportunity arose attacked looking for a passing lane.

NZL 92’s crew never faltered. The margin at the finish was a mere 8 sec. It was an important win for NZL 92 in the best of nine series in which the first yacht to take five races wins the final and goes through to challenge Alinghi for the America’s Cup.

Grant Dalton: ‘We saw today two evenly matched yachts, two well-matched crews and there was never anything in it.

“We sailed well, and so did they. It was one of those races where every metre counted. We got the bow in front early on the first beat and in the end there were no passing lanes.

“Today we got the one point for winning. It could have gone the other way. What we learned is that we will have another tough day tomorrow.”

Strategist Ray Davies said skipper Dean Barker gave them the start they wanted – on the right and away clean. “We worked hard to get that first break. Once we got in front we knew it was going to be hard for them to pass.”

Today’s race started in 10-12 knots of breeze from the east, with the breeze shifting to the south-east as the race progressed.

The start was even, both yachts crossed the line at speed with the telemetry giving it to Emirates Team New Zealand by 1 second. But of greater importance, NZL 92 was on the right to windward.

For the first half of the beat there was absolutely nothing in it… a few metres advantage to NZL 92, then a few to ITA 94 as they headed on port tack to the right lay line.

NZL 92 bided its time, waiting for the moment to tack back on Luna Rossa and go for the cross. When it happened NZL 92 was in front.

Then, with half the beat completed, NZL 92 got the small windshift the afterguard expected and were able to extend and take firm control. Working hard, they rounded the top mark with a 12 sec advantage.

On the run, Luna Rossa was content to follow NZL 92, waiting for their moment to attack and hopefully roll over NZL 92.

They closed, but were never close enough to push the attack, and NZL 92 rounded the windward end of the gate with a 9sec advantage.

Up the second beat the Italians attacked but NZL 92 was firmly in control, maintaining a tight cover and not offering any passing lanes. ITA 94 threw 24 tacks at NZL 92 as they tried to break the grip.

But NZL 92 crew was poised and well in command, as Luna Rossa worked to stay in touch at the top mark so that they were in a position to mount an attack on the run.

And they did attack on the run, but to no avail. NZL 92 kept their cool and finished with an 8 sec margin.

The margins: top mark 12 sec, first leeward 9 sec, second windward 11 sec.

Tomorrow’s weather: South-east, 12 to 18 knots, 16ºC to 28ºC, 70% humidity, sunny.

ENDS

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