Louis Vuitton Act 12 - Day 7 - Flight 10 : Emirates Team beats Alinghi, still unbeaten

Emirates Team New Zealand - Alinghi : 1 - 0

The first one of the three Big-Four battles, between unbeaten Emirates Team New Zealand and Alinghi was not as close as most observers would have expected. After a difficult prestart procedure for Alinghi, where everybody on the media boat was surprised to see Peter Holmberg get trapped in a corner, both boats started with just a split second of difference. The Kiwis raced to the left but then went to the right, staying clearly ahead of the Swiss. Dean Braker and the rest of the crew aboard NZL-84 extended their lead on both upwind legs while Alinghi seemd to be catching up on the first downind leg althoug not enough to prevent Emirates Team New Zealand from crossing the finish line more than a minute ahead.

We couldn´t follow the race as well we would have liked as, unlike all other days, the media boat was incredibly far from the action.

Ten seconds before the gun went off, Alinghi seemed to be in a tough position as Dean Barker had outmaneuvered Peter Holmberg. Valencia, 28 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Nevertheless, the start for Alinghi was not a disaster. Valencia, 28 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Emirates Team New Zealand rounded the leeward gate 45 seconds ahead of Alinghi. Valencia, 28 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

We don´t remember seeing an Alinghi boat so far behind their adversary on the final stretch to the finish line, any time during the 32nd America's Cup. Valencia, 28 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Finally, it was a comfortable victory for Emirates Team New Zealand and a tremendous improvement in crew work from Louis Vuitton Act 10. Valencia, 28 June 2006. Photo by Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing