Team New Zealand Wins Opening Race

AUCKLAND, New Zealand —  The first America’s Cup race sailed in New Zealand was similar to the last one in the United States.

It ended with Team New Zealand’s Black Magic way ahead.

Black Magic wrested the early lead away from Italy’s Luna Rossa on the windward first leg today, led at every turning mark and won the opening race of the 30th America’s Cup in 1 minute 17 seconds.

It was another gorgeous, hot day on the Hauraki Gulf, with one big difference from Saturday--wind. The opening race had been postponed a day because of lack of wind.

So New Zealanders once again gave their heroes a rousing send-off from Viaduct Basin, and this time got something to cheer for. The wind was blowing at 14 knots at the start of just the second Cup defense outside the United States--and the first America’s Cup without an American yacht.

Then the Kiwis went out onto the six-leg, 18.5-mile course and picked up right where they left off on May 13, 1995, when they won off San Diego.

Luna Rossa won the start by three seconds, but a wind shift to the right and poor tacking by the Italians, which tactician Torben Grael could be heard complaining about, allowed Black Magic to take control and round the first mark 22 seconds ahead.

The Kiwis added 14 seconds on the downwind second leg and then got a nice wind shift going back upwind to push the lead to 63 seconds.

But since the trailing boat can block the breeze sailing downwind, Luna Rossa was able to cut Black Magic’s lead to just 25 seconds turning onto the final lap around the course.

Black Magic again took off sailing into the wind, pushing the lead to 1:16 as it rounded the buoy for the final 3.25 miles to the finish line.