Emirates Team New Zealand handed the American Cup defenders two heavy defeats at the start of the 35th America's Cup duel. With a significantly faster boat speed, the Kiwis dismantled Oracle Team USA in the first two races. Oracle helmsman Jimmy Spithill made an annoying early start in the first race of the day, with the American boat crossing the line one second too early. It was just one of the many sailing errors that both teams made on the first day of the final - although the Americans made them more frequently. Combined with the speed disadvantage of the "17", there were no points for Jimmy Spithill and his men to be won against the fast and fleet-footed "Aotearoa" on Saturday. "It was a tough day," admitted Spithill in the afternoon on Bermuda, "we clearly didn't sail our best. These guys(his gaze wanders to Peter Burling) sailed better today."
Despite their own mistakes, the challengers got off to a dream start. They dominated the first race throughout after the Americans' early start. The Kiwis had a 46-second lead at the halfway point. At one point, they were more than half a kilometre ahead of the defending champions. However, helmsman Peter Burling and his cycling men also experienced a scary moment: on the way to the finish, they fell off the foils during the manoeuvre at the last mark for the final sprint, and it took what felt like an eternity for the Kiwis to get back into flight mode afterwards. "We're not happy with how we sailed today either. We had a few problems. There are all sorts of things that we need to analyse in detail tonight. And one thing is clear: our team needs eight wins to win the America's Cup. We have no illusions that it will be much tougher. The good news is that we can rely on our boat speed and are leading 1:0."
Buhl and Heil share the fever
As a result of the defending champions' victory in the qualifying round, the New Zealanders had to start the final series with a minus point. The bonus point won by the Americans had been converted in accordance with the amended regulations. The "fabulous Burling Boys" turned this minus point into a 1:0 advantage on the first day with their "Red Rocket". 49er helmsman Erik Heil, who won the bronze medal with Thomas Plößel in Rio de Janeiro, while the America's Cup stars Peter Burling and Blair Tuke had already fished the hoped-for gold out of Guanabara Bay early with great dominance, said after the races, which he had watched on television on Saturday evening: "Legendary, the boys! I hope it continues like this!" Laser vice world champion Philipp Buhl also watched the exciting Cup duel from afar and commented: "Cool sailing, the Kiwis! But the strongest sign was probably the second start today! They put up a mega strong defence against the king of starts, Spithill. That's encouraging. The speed was no surprise."
The Kiwis won the second race of the day after their confident start with a 1:28-minute lead at the finish. However, Jimmy Spithill, in his usual sporting manner, did not allow himself to be dissuaded from his conviction that everything remains open in this duel: "We gave away the first race today. The tide can definitely turn on Sunday! We were really anything but good today. We need to get going." Sir Ben Ainslie, CEO and helmsman of the retired British team Land Rover BAR, had said in the morning: "The New Zealanders are working hard to put their 2013 story straight." They took a step in this direction on Saturday.
Both helmsmen agreed after the opening races that the initially very weak, shifty and sometimes patchy wind conditions were difficult to master. This explained various mistakes on both sides, although not all of them. The duel between the Cup giants will continue on Sunday with races 3 and 4, which will be broadcast live by both Servus TV and Sky Sport.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
