10 March 2010 / AP, AUCKLAND
Azzurra of Italy, French outfit Aleph, the French-Germany team All4One and hosts Team New Zealand won their match races on Tuesday on the first day of the Louis Vuitton Trophy sailing regatta.
Lack of wind delayed the start of racing for more than 4-1/2 hours on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and wind shifts and changing currents made conditions difficult at the start of round robin racing among eight America’s Cup teams. Team New Zealand, skippered by Dean Barker, took advantage of local knowledge to beat Sweden’s Artemis, with American Terry Hutchinson on the helm, by 1 minute, 40 seconds. The New Zealanders led by 55 seconds at the first mark and, though the Swedish team closed to within 12 seconds downwind, the Kiwis pulled away again to lead by 1 minute, 20 seconds at the final rounding. Shifting winds made tactics difficult but the hosts expertly read the currents and 5 to 7 knot winds to maintain their advantage.
