America's Cup: Flauten-Foiling - Kiwis convince, Orient Express surprises

After torrential rain, thunder and lightning the day before, the first pre-regatta for the 37th America's Cup got underway on Saturday off Vilanova i la Geltrú. Only very slowly, because the winds remained extremely weak. However, at least one team was able to finish two races. Emirates Team New Zealand proved its mastery of the AC40 foils in the very light winds on Saturday after dominating training.

The first victory goes to the "Orient Express"

In the first race of the day, however, France's Orient Express in particular surprised the experts and fans. The team founded and managed by Stéphan Kandler and Bruno Dubois was the last to start the current Cup cycle and has barely half the budget that the major powers operate with in the America's Cup. The French sailors have also barely been able to complete more than a few weeks of AC40 training.

Which is why there was great joy at the sporting start of the pre-regatta on Saturday afternoon: David led the five Goliaths in the very first race of the pre-regatta, showing what is possible in the standardised AC40-Foiler class with good handling and a good strategy. Formidable, was the word from the French camp. In borderline foiling conditions with only a handful of knots of wind, the two helmsmen Quentin Delapierre and Kevin Pepponet and their trimmers brought the "Orient Express" to the finish line first in the final sprint with clever mid-course positioning in a "race crawl".

Thoroughly messed up: two last places for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli

Second and third places went to American Magic with helmsmen Tom Slingsby and Paul Goodison and the Kiwis, who did not get off to an ideal start but still managed to turn it into a favourable result. They were followed by Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Ineos Britannia and Patrizio Bertelli's Italian team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, who were unfortunate on Saturday. The Azzurri finished last twice in the heat battle in Barcelona after good training runs on Saturday.

This was particularly painful for the Italians in the first race of the day, when they only learnt at the finish that they had made a false start and were therefore classified as "not started" (DNS). Not everything went smoothly on board in the second race either. The team led by helmsmen Francesco Bruni and Jimmy Spithill received a penalty for coming too close to the French team's foil radius.

An unfortunate jibe deprives Alinghi Red Bull Racing of success

The opening phase of the second race was initially dominated by Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Arnaud Psarofaghis, Maxim Bechelin and their crew produced a remarkable pre-start phase and a strong first half in which they were able to extend their lead over the rest of the fleet enormously. However, an unfortunate gybe in the dying breeze robbed the Swiss of the fruits of their labour.

As is so often the case, the New Zealand Cup defenders with helmsmen Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge, who initially trailed but then sailed confidently, immediately capitalised on the Swiss weakness, overtook Alinghi Red Bull Racing and dominated the race to the finish. After flawless flat foiling, the Kiwis also fell off the foils with their last tack on the shortened course. However, they managed to cross the finish line in slow motion, even with a full hull in the water. Alinghi took second place. The other four teams were ranked according to their position at the first gate after the time limit had expired.

Which two teams will make it to Sunday's final?

After just two races so far, the race organisers in Vilanova i la Geltrú will allow the teams to sail as many fleet races as possible on Sunday before the two top crews go into the final match race duel. Ahead of the final day, Emirates Team New Zealand and Orient Express Racing Team are tied on 15 points each, ahead of Alinghi Red Bull Racing (10 points), American Magic (9 points), Ineos Britannia (5 points) and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team (1 point).

UPDATE, 17 September, 0.05 a.m.: The intermediate results changed late on Saturday evening because the "DNS" imposed on the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team was withdrawn in the opinion of the jury from the start scenes. As a result, France's Orient Express (15 points) had a two-point lead over Emirates Team New Zealand (13 points) ahead of the final day. They were followed by Alinghi Red Bull Racing (9 points), ahead of the Italians (8 points), American Magic (7 points) and provisional last-placed Ineos Britannia (4 points).

The high school of lull foiling! Click here for the replay of the two day races and a few manoeuvres worth seeing:

Click here for the intermediate results of the first pre-regatta of the 37th America's Cup in Vilanova i la Geltrú, where the decision will be made on 17 September.