Excuse me Sir, do you have 100 million euros to spare?

According to this report from New Zealand's 3 News and Ben Ainslie's comment, taking part in the 34th America's Cup will come with a price tag of at least 100 million euros, if you are serious about beating BMW Oracle.

As for Emirates Team New Zealand, its managing director Grant Dalton can't guarantee whether they will be able to get all the money needed but he does state he's moving at an "incredible speed". Securing 100 million euros over the next 3 years will not be an easy task, according to the report, and it is "a lot of money for anyone", according to Ben Ainslie. As a result, this edition of the world's oldest sports trophy could be "a lot smaller" than before.

Emirates Team NZ become first ever team to retain the Audi MedCup title

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Just as they did last year Emirates Team New Zealand clinched their second successive Audi MedCup Circuit win with two racing days of the 2010 season to spare.

After Thursday’s coastal race the supreme Kiwis under skipper-helm Dean Barker had built themselves an unbeatable lead and in the end, after today’s one final blustery race in a Mistral of more than 28 knots off Cagliari, Sardinia the champions rounded out their second victorious season to finish 48.5 points ahead of Quantum Racing (USA) who finish runners-up, as they also did last season..

Alberto Roemmers’ Matador (ARG), the current world champions skippered by Guillermo Parada (ARG), comprehensively won the Region of Sardinia Trophy, the fifth and final regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit season, finishing 12.5 points ahead of Jochen Schuemann’s Franco-German crew on Audi A1 powered by All4ONE.

The Kiwi 2010 champions, become the first team ever in the six year history of the circuit to win back-to-back MedCup Circuit champion titles. They won the top regatta trophy in Cascais, were fourth in Marseille, second in Barcelona, triumphed in Murcia and finished third on countback here in Cagliari.

The world's best monohull sailing team surfing the waves to overall championship victory. Cagliari, 25 September 2010. Photo copyright Stefano Gattini / AUDI Medcup

Emirates Team New Zealand set themselves on course for overall victory from the outset of the season in breezy Cascais, Portugal in May where they established an initial lead of 20 points, winning three races as well as the key coastal race there.

When last season they streaked to win four in a row of 2009’s five regattas, unmatched consistency has underpinned their victory again this season.

They won ten of this 2010 season’s 44 52 Series races. Last year they won 14 races from 43 starts. Skipper Dean Barker, Emirates Team New Zealand’s skipper -helm highlighted today how much harder this season has been for them to prevail overall.

Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the Quantum Racing (USA) crew finish second overall for the season, just five points ahead of Matador.

When they seized the lead on the second beat of today’s race the world champions seemed to have pulled themselves up to within touching distance of second place on the Circuit.

After winning the 2010 AUDI Medcup, Emirates Team NZ are staring at the unknown. Cagliari, 25 September 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / AUDI Medcup

With incumbents Quantum Racing five boats behind it might then have gone down to a match race for second, but as they hoisted their kite for the final run it exploded and they were left sitting for minutes while four boats passed them.

They only just managed to get a new spinnaker filling to stay ahead of their green and black hulled adversaries. With a win in the final race of the season Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE finish second at this season’s finale, just as they also did in Portugal in May.

2010 Audi MedCup Circuit - Final results
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31,5+31+35+35.5+38= 171 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), 59.5+22,5+44+53.5+40= 219.5
3. Matador (ARG), 60+27+67+45+25.5= 224.5
4. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59.5+31+63+46.5+41,5= 241.5
5. Artemis (SWE), 57+53+33+64+49.5= 256.5
6. Synergy (RUS), 64+35.5+73+68.5+38.5= 279.5
7. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51.5+29,5+84+78+38= 281
8. Bribón (ESP), 88+41+58+70+45.3= 296,5
9. Cristabella (GBR), 65+43.5+62+85,5+62= 318
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77,5+44.5+73+69+74.5= 338.5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88+78+70+78.5+102= 416.5

Video: Last trip for the old America's Cup "dinosaurs"

According to the new "world order" that has now been established in the sport of sailing, the "old and boring" big monohulls, like the dinosaurs, are destined to become an extinct species, at least in the America's Cup. A pair of those yachts, NZL-84 and NZL-92, were loaded yesterday in Auckland onto a cargo ship heading for Dubai. Emirates Team New Zealand will provide two of the yachts that will be used in the upcoming Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai. In fact, it will be the last time an IACC yacht is used in official racing.

Kevin Shoebridge, Chief Operating Officer of Emirates Team NZ, talks about the last trip of his team's old America's Cup yachts. Auckland, 22 September 2010. Video copyright NZ Herald

Video: Dean Barker talks about the first day of racing in Cagliari

Dean Barker talks about day 1 of the Region of Sardinia Trophy. Cagliari, 21 September 2010. Video copyright Emirates Team New Zealand

Video: Highlights from day 1 of the Region of Sardinia Trophy

Highlights from day 1 of the Region of Sardinia Trophy. Cagliari, 21 September 2010. Video copyright AUDI Medcup

Emirates Team NZ lead the TP52's on opening day of Cagliari regatta

[Source: AUDI Medcup] Emirates Team New Zealand bounced back from an opening race eighth to lead the Region of Sardinia Regatta.

Their Region of Sardinia Trophy Regatta lead after Day 1 on the Gulf of Cagliari may be the smallest possible, but Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) proved why they are so firmly on course for their second successive Audi MedCup Circuit today when they stretched their overall Circuit lead still further over 2008 champions Quantum Racing (USA)

After a very modest eighth in the first race the Kiwi champions bounced back to a second and then won the breezy third race to finish the day sharing the same points aggregate as the Franco-German Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) but leading on countback.

The world's best monohull sailing team charge ahead and extend their overall leadership in the 2010 AUDI Medcup circuit. Cagliari, 21 September 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

For the Kiwi champions, who won here in July last year, that slender lead is only an early, passing bonus – a reflection of their strength and ability. The real satisfaction came as they added another eight points to their Circuit lead over Quantum Racing whose 9,3,7 for the day underlined just how testing the conditions were.

As if to underline once again the small margins between glory and a finish in the lower reaches of the 10 boat 52 Series fleet on a race track which favoured the best starters, in Race 1 José Cusi’s Bribon (ESP) were quickest off the pin end of the start line and able to gain early control of the favoured left side of the course.

They went on to win but then, unable to exert themselves so well off the start line, could only back up their victory by a ninth and an eighth.

Emirates Team New Zealand were contenders in the top three on approach to the first windward mark, but had to duck out of their port tack approach to round eighth.

Jochen Schumann’s Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE got clear early, jumping off the middle of the Race 2 start line in 6-9 knots of ESE’ly wind. Their sharp start allowed them to reap the dividend on the left, but also taking a perfect line in extra breeze to their final layline to lead around the windward mark. They won their first race since Cascais in May when they crossed the finish ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand.

The opening day of the Cagliari regatta was mediocre for Artemis. Cagliari, 21 September 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

For the third race in succession it was the team which started best which went on to take the winning gun, although Dean Barker (NZL) and the Kiwi crew had to work hard for their victory.

While the start saw only 6-7 knots of late afternoon breeze, it swung hard left and built left flank of the first beat, new breeze piping up to more than 20 knots.

The gentle breeze was replaced suddenly by marching white horses and full power conditions, still peppered with big swings in direction on different parts of the course as the residual breeze clung to the right of the track.

Emirates Team New Zealand were able to keep the advances of Matador (ARG) in check at the approach to the second windward mark, when the wind seemed to bang back right, towards the original direction, leaving all three leading boats fast reaching into the final turn, well above the starboard lay line. But the Argentine flagged Matador, with their 2,8,2 for the day lie third, only one point behind the kiwis and Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE.

Region of Sardinia Trophy - 52 Series - Day 1
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1= 11 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5= 11
3. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2= 12
4. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3= 14
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4= 15
6. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8= 18
7. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10= 19
8. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7= 19
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6= 20
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9= 26

Practice today and a second for Emirates Team NZ (sort of) in Barcelona

So, honoring the old tradition, Emirates Team NZ managed not to finish the practice race in Barcelona. It's a tricky venue, with light and shifty conditions expected for the week, so the kiwis might have to work hard in order to keep their overall lead in the circuit. At least, it seems that there isn't much local knowledge within the fleet and the venue is quite unknown for most of the crews. As a result, at least in that aspect, the kiwis will be on an equal footing.

The official winner of the race was AUDI 1 but in reality it was Team Origin that led the race, followed by Emirates Team NZ.

Dean Barker talks about the TP52 practice race. Barcelona, 20 July 2010. Video copyright Emirates Team NZ

No sure things for Emirates Team NZ at MedCup Marseille

[Source: Emirates Team NZ] The Marseille regatta of the Audi MedCup circuit starts on Tuesday with a practice race and racing for real starts overnight on Wednesday.

Marseille is where Emirates Team New Zealand started its unbeaten winning run last season. Since then the boys have built some momentum and leads the 2010 series by 20 points after the regatta in Portugal.

However, the sailing team knows three bad results at Marseille could wipe that buffer in a day.

Dean Barker again is looking for consistency over every race and every day of the regatta to maintain the team’s lead.

And that won’t be easy. Barker is expecting improved performances from Quantum Racing, with skipper Terry Hutchinson at the helm, and TeamOrigin, the Britsh entry with Ben Ainlie at the helm and Ian Percy calling tactics.

Third placed team at Cascais, Artemis, is also seen as a threat. But Emirates Team New Zealand does not dismiss any yacht in the fleet. “Any boat could win any race. There’s not pecking order in Marseille, no easy races. We will have to work hard.”

Points after Cascais
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 31.5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 51.5
3. Artemis (SWE), 57
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 59.5
5. TeamOrigin (GBR), 59.5
6. Matador (ARG), 60
7. Synergy (RUS), 64
8. Cristabella (GBR), 65
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 77.5
10. Bribón (ESP), 82.5
11. Bigamist 7 (POR), 88


Emirates Team NZ during Monday's unofficial training session. Marseille, 14 June 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Emirates Team NZ during Monday's unofficial training session. Marseille, 14 June 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Emirates Team NZ during Monday's unofficial training session. Marseille, 14 June 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Video: Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena - Final Match 1

Highlights from Final Match 1 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. La Maddalena, 5 June 2010. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Video: Highlights from Day 11 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy la Maddalena

Highlights from Day 11 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. La Maddalena, 1 June 2010. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Emirates Team NZ beat BMW Oracle in day's only race

[Source: Emirates Team NZ] Dean Barker won his re-match against BMW Oracle Racing in fine style on Sunday, forcing a red-flag penalty just before the third mark that decided the outcome of the match.

BMW Oracle took the penalty immediately but the umpires ruled that they had not completed the turn. That meant another shot at it and the loss of more ground as Emirates Team New Zealand powered away down the run to the finish, crossing 54s ahead.

The penalty put the result of what had been a close race beyond any doubt. With the wind at 20knots but the water flat, there was nothing in it for the first two legs. Emirates Team New Zealand led around the first and second marks but the margins were small – just 6s at both.

Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle in a luffing match on the second beat of their re match, the Americans were given an immediate penalty. La Maddalena, 30 May 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Approaching the third mark, with the yachts almost bow to bow, Dean Barker forced a penalty on BMW Oracle which emerged from the tussle in a controlling position.

The umpires made it a “red flag” penalty which meant BMW Oracle had to make the turn immediately. The umpires ruled that they did not complete the turn and they had to do another once they rounded.

The match was a re-sail of the match that ended in controversy when the umpires penalised Emirates Team New Zealand. The team protested the circumstances surrounding the penalty and, although redress was denied, the umpires and the jury recommended to the race committee that the race be abandoned.

Today’s race was the only one of six scheduled to be raced on Sunday. The building mistral wind brought a premature halt to racing. Racing tomorrow has been cancelled because the mistral will again dominate the weather.

Emirates Team New Zealand beat the Defender of the 34th America's Cup. La Maddalena, 30 May 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Video: Highlights from Day 8 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy la Maddalena

Highlights from Day 8 of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Grant Dalton: The boats used in La Maddalena are "substandard"

Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team NZ, was not a happy man after the conclusion of racing, almost at sunset, on Saturday and with good reason. A horizontal split near the top of the jib and a failed lock at the top of the mast cost his team any chance of winning its race against All4One.

As Dean Barker said they got the start they wanted but because of the torn jib they couldn't build the speed they wanted. Their main job was to keep the sail together as much as possible and minimise the losses while preparing for an attack on the downwind leg.

Yet that opportunity never came because at the hoist at the leeward gate one of the locks at the top of the rig failed and they could not set the sail properly. As a result, in the second beat as well the speed of the kiwi boat was compromised.

It's no wonder then that Dalton voiced his disappointment in the short video pointing out that the Louis Vuitton Trophy format works well when the boats they use are good, such as the ones provided by his team Auckland, but not with "substandard" yachts.

Grant Dalton comments of Saturday's races. La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Video copyright Emirates Team NZ

Field closes up at Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] Just one point separates the top five boats at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena after an eventful program of five races sailed today in fresh breezes.

Russia’s SYNERGY Racing Team and the Swedish team Artemis share the top of the point’s table, each with five points. Emirates Team New Zealand, Britain’s TEAMORIGIN and the French/German team All4One are all equal third on four points.

The Artemis genaker pole goes overboard during the takedown, breaks and drags the genaker under the boat. La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Photo copyright Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy

With two days’ competition remaining in the round robin, the pressure began to tell in strong winds this afternoon as Sweden’s Artemis broke a gennaker pole and shredded a gennaker, and a jib began to self-destruct on Emirates Team New Zealand. Both top teams lost their respective races.

The Artemis breakdown was self-inflicted. The Swedish boat skippered by Paul Cayard was pushing to overtake the Russian boat when the pole went overboard, triggering a sequence that saw it trip and explode into pieces before dragging the sail under the boat. Artemis retired. On the Team New Zealand boat, racing All4One, the hapless Kiwis could only watch as the head of their jib began to split in 20 knot winds.

The Kiwis had more success off the water, at least temporarily when the Race Committee gave them a reprieve by ordering a resail of their race yesterday against BMW Oracle Racing. In another twist, the Jury tonight will hear an appeal by Oracle against the resail decision.

Emirates Team New Zealand jib starts to come apart on the first beat in their round robin match against All4One. La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

The dispute hinges on a safety order issued yesterday telling teams to maintain tension on forestays during spinnaker runs. After an umpires’ protest and a jury decision denied Team New Zealand any chance of a win in their match against Oracle, the organizers relented today, withdrew the safety order and ordered the resail.

Flight Seventeen, Race Two: TEAMORIGIN def. Luna Rossa, 00:37 – They started at speed on starboard with Britain’s TEAMORIGIN bow-out in the leeward berth. Ed Baird steering Luna Rossa was forced away early on port as Ben Ainslie on ORIGIN sailed into more pressure and continued to pull ahead.

Flight Six, Race Two: Azzurra def. SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team, 00:15 – Italy’s Francesco Bruni pulled off a breathtakingly close port cross on the first leg to defeat SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team. On the second beat there were 17 punishing tacks up the 1.2-mile leg but Synergy skipper Karol Jablonski, on the right, could never gain enough ground to get past Bruni.

Flight Twentythree, Race One: Artemis def. Azzurra, 00:15 – Saddled with a penalty in the pre-start Francesco Bruni and his Italian Azzurra team stayed on the attack and took the fight to the Swedish team Artemis around all four legs as the lead changed multiple times. However the Italians were trailing Terry Hutchinson and Artemis by 100 metres at the finish and they were still carrying the penalty.

Flight Eighteen, Race One: SYNERGY Russian Sailing Team def. Artemis, retired – A spinnaker pole overboard at the end of the second run dragged Artemis to oblivion, breaking the pole and shredding the Swedish boat’s spinnaker.

The Artemis genaker pole goes overboard during the takedown, breaks and drags the genaker under the boat. La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Photo copyright Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz/Louis Vuitton Trophy

Flight Twenty, Race Two: All4One def. Emirates Team New Zealand, 00:21 – The French/German boat started ahead in the middle of the line on starboard, just ahead of the Kiwis on their weather hip. All4One helmsman Sébastien Col gradually inched ahead and his lead increased as the jib on ETNZ began to self-destruct.

Emirates Team New Zealand replace the torn jib with the backup jib on the first run in their round robin match against All4One . La Maddalena, 29 May 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Provisional win-loss leaderboard after Saturday racing:

=1. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 5-4, 5 points
=1. Artemis, 5-2, 5 points
=3. Emirates Team New Zealand, 4-2, 4 points

=3. TEAMORIGIN, 4-3, 4 points
=3. All4One, 4-3, 4 points

=6. Azzurra, 3-4, 3 points

=6. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, 4-1, 3 points *

=8. Luna Rossa, 2-6, 2 points
=9. BMW Oracle Racing Team, 1-5, 1 point
=10. ALEPH Sailing Team, 2-4, -2 points *

* Penalties deducted by Jury/Umpires

BMW Oracle and Emirates Team NZ to re-sail their match

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] In the interest of fairness, the Race Committee has decided to abandon Friday's match between BMW ORACLE Racing and Emirates Team New Zealand. The race will be re-sailed at a later date.

In Friday's match, the Kiwis had been penalised by the Umpires on the final run to the finish for not maintaining enough tension on their forestay. The penalty came under an amendment to the Sailing Instructions that had been issued Friday morning with the intent of ensuring the safety of the rigs. Although Team New Zealand had a request for redress denied by the International Jury following the race, it was clear the Umpires and Jury weren't satisfied with the result.

"This was a hard rule," said Bill Edgerton, the chief Umpire. "After consultation with the sailors this morning, the organising authority decided this was an unworkable rule and it was rescinded. So effectively, Team New Zealand was penalised for a rule which now doesn't exist. At the hearing last night, we couldn't give them redress because of the way the Rules (Racing Rules of Sailing) are written. But we made a strong recommendation to the Race Committee that the race should be abandoned."

The re-sail adds another match for Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio to fit into a crowded racing schedule.

"The race now gets slotted into the schedule at the earliest opportunity. Hopefully on Sunday," Reggio said. "I know this can look a little confusing, but to us and to the sailors, this is what is necessary for the event. This is a sailor's event and we want to get it right."

Video: Highlights from the final day of the Portugal Trophy

Highlights from the final day of the Portugal Trophy. Cascais, 16 May 2010. Video copyright AUDI Medcup

Emirates Team NZ wins LV Trophy Auckland

[Source: Emirates Team NZ] Emirates Team New Zealand has won the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland regatta with an emphatic 56 sec win over Mascalzone Latino this afternoon.

With the win, Emirates Team New Zealand went 2 – up in the best-of-three final.

Barker and his afterguard wanted the right at the start – Mascalzone Latino wanted the left. Both got their wish and ETNZ was fast off the line.

Neither team had a clear advantage into the beat, a left shift favouring Mascalzone Latino at first and then tactician Ray Davies got the shift in the right that strategist Adam Beashel was calling from his vantage point up the mast.

As Dean Barker said after the race: “For a while the shift looked like it was going to be too late.” But when it arrived, ETNZ got back into the lead and extended. At the first cross, they were ahead and looking strong.

Mascalzone Latino followed into the mark, but there were only 8 seconds in it. Rounding ETNZ gybed into a left-hand shift and Mascalzone Latino continued on.

Barker benefited mightily and extended all the way to the finish. The margins: 21 sec at the second mark, 38 sec at the third and 56sec at the finish.

Emirates Team NZ beat Mascalzone 2-0 in the LV Trophy final. Auckland, 21 March 2010. Photo copyright Chris Cameron / Emirates Team NZ

Emirates Team NZ beat Artemis in their first race in LV Auckland

[Source: Emirates Team NZ] Emirates Team New Zealand has opened its Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland campaign with a win over the Swedish Artemis.

In an early evening race, Emirates Team New Zealand sailing NZL92 played the shifts and the tidal current to cross the line 1min 40secsec ahead of the Swedes.

Skipper Dean Barker and his afterguard played a patient game, prepared to take some temporary pain for later gain, as he and the trimmers combined to keep the yacht moving at maximum speed in the patchy south-west breeze.

Emirates Team NZ beats Artemis in their first in the LV Trophy. Auckland, 9 March 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

A lack of breeze delayed racing until 2.45 pm. The first two matches were sailed in a light north-east breeze. By the time the ETNZ-Artemis match came around the breeze had swung to the south-west. A new course was laid in the inner harbour with the top mark near the Orakei wharf.

ETNZ led off the start, gaining a small advantage, and then Artemis took the lead in the left. Tactician Ray Davies held his nerve, got the shift he was expecting, and NZL92 opened up a 55sec lead at the first mark.

Artemis came back at New Zealand on the first run. Bringing up the breeze, they ate into the ETNZ lead, and by the bottom mark the advantage had been whittled away to only 12sec.

Emirates Team NZ beats Artemis in their first in the LV Trophy. Auckland, 9 March 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

It was all on again. Davies, strategist Adam Beashel and navigator Jules Salter got NZL92 around the mark in good shape. Artemis went left and ETNZ went right. That turned out to be the crucial tactical decision of the day.

ETNZ got the breeze and extended, rounding the second top mark 1 min 21 sec ahead. By the finish the margin was 1min 40sec.

Emirates Team NZ beats Artemis in their first in the LV Trophy. Auckland, 9 March 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

Emirates Team NZ beats Artemis in their first in the LV Trophy. Auckland, 9 March 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

Emirates Team NZ beats Artemis in their first in the LV Trophy. Auckland, 9 March 2010. Photo copyright Sander van der Borch / Artemis

Video: Highlights from the 2nd day of Semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Trophy.

Video highlights from the 2nd day of Semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Trophy. Nice, 20 November 2009. Video copyright Louis Vuitton Trophy

Emirates Team NZ, unbeaten, leads Louis vuitton trophy

[Source: Louis Vuitton Trophy] Italy’s Azzurra of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda won today its first match of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d’Azur while Emirates Team New Zealand survived a hair-raising finish to keep its record perfect.

Azzurra scored the victory it was denied on Saturday when it defeated BMW ORACLE Racing of the U.S. Two days ago the Italian crew, led by skipper Francesco Bruni, was 200 metres from the finish line when the 20-minute leg time limit expired.

Today, the Italians scored an emphatic win of 2 minutes and 56 seconds to the pleasure of YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadero, who rode with his team as 18th man, and displeasure of BMW Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who was among his team’s afterguard.

“The team did a very good job all over the course,” said Bruni, the skipper from Sicily. “We didn’t feel robbed Saturday; we understand rules are rules. We wished the race committee had shortened the course, but we’re all learning. We are very happy about this point, it was very important for us.”

The two crews took split tacks onto the racecourse with BMW Oracle on starboard and Azzurra on port. Each crew got the side it wanted, but the wind shifted to the right and gave the Italians an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

“They got the first good shift and we were behind from there,” said BMW Oracle strategist Cameron Dunn of Australia. “We were happy coming off the line where we were, but the conditions were changing very quickly. When we came back at them the wind shifted right and they were wound up to layline. From there it was a soldier’s course, marching along. They sailed very well, so good on them.”

Emirates Team New Zealand entered its match against Russia’s Synergy Team with a perfect 2-0 mark while Synergy was 0-1. For a while it appeared that each team’s zero would be wiped from its scoreline. In the end this turned out to be the most exciting match of the regatta still in its early days.

Synergy led Team New Zealand by four to five boatlengths within 10 lengths of the finish line in very light and shifty winds. Then the Kiwis found a private puff and rolled over the top of the Russian team, which was dead in the water, and won by 22 seconds.

The Kiwis kept their record perfect at 3-0 and Synergy dropped to 0-2. The loss was crushing for Synergy skipper Karol Jablonski of Poland, who rallied his crew to lead the match after being over early at the start.

“Yeah it hurts,” said Jablonski, a match race world champion and three-time DN Ice Boat world champion. “I knew it was going to be tough to the finish because I could see the finish line and there was no wind at it. Everything can happen in one puff. We couldn’t do anything.”

The Kiwis kept their heads down and persevered. After rolling Synergy the spinnaker blew back into the rig, so the crew dropped it on deck and crossed the finish line without a headsail.

“We’ll take the point, but it’s not the kind of conditions we want to sail in,” said Dean Barker, Emirates Team New Zealand skipper. “We worked hard to get back at them. They would gain, then we would take back some of it, but it looked like there was no way around them.”

The two matches were the only ones completed as regatta organizers were once again frustrated by very light and shifty winds. Racing for the day was postponed at 1430 CET when the Bay of Angels was calm. Principal Race Officer Peter Reggio holds out the hope that tomorrow he can complete four flights, or eight races.

“If the breeze cooperates we can do four flights; that’s not an issue,” said Reggio. “We’re starting to see the sun shine now and we haven’t had that all weekend. We’re hoping the sun will do its work and make the area come true to form with a northerly in morning and southeasterly in afternoon.”