Alinghi greeted the anticipation of Match 1 in the 32nd America’s Cup with a decisive answer, a 35-second win over Emirates Team New Zealand. Alinghi now leads the 32nd Match 1-0, with the winner the first to 5 wins.
“It felt really good – it was a huge relief to get out there. The racing was close, but we were pretty calm having done so much really competitive in-house racing,” said Simon Daubney, trimmer onboard.
In an easterly wind around 12 knots on the Mediterranean Sea, Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand took to the racecourse after an incident-free pre-start. With about 1 minute to the start, Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird, who entered the pre-start on the disadvantaged port tack, seemed to have his Kiwi counterpart Dean Barker locked outside the committee boat end. But with 30 seconds to go Barker put his bow down to escape the trap and Baird did the same to protect his position to leeward. The boats entered the racecourse on starboard with Alinghi slightly to leeward.
Daubney comments on the pre-start: “We got the side that we wanted, we were keen for the left and that is what we got.”
A long drag race ensued on starboard tack. Emirates Team New Zealand made slight gains in a right-hand shift, but Alinghi had enough boatspeed to live to leeward, a usually uncomfortable position.
The first cross is the key point in a match race because the team that gains the lead wins about 90 percent of match races. At the first cross, about 16 minutes into the race, Alinghi tacked to starboard on Emirates Team New Zealand’s leebow. Although Alinghi couldn’t cross, the team had turned a small early deficit around. And at the second meeting of the teams moments later Alinghi crossed with two boat lengths in hand and tacked on Emirates Team New Zealand’s wind.
The crews exchanged about seven more tacks up the windward leg and Alinghi led by 13 seconds at the first mark. Alinghi extended that lead on the first run to 20 seconds. Up the second beat Team New Zealand made nice gains to close to within 14 seconds.
Daubney comments on the boat speed differences between SUI100, racing for the first time in official competition and NZL92: “The boat speed is pretty similar between the two, but it was puffy and the breeze was up and down, so you can’t get too much of a read on it in just one race. From a first look though, it seems the boats are pretty similar in speed.”
Alinghi, however, extended its lead on the run to the finish by sailing lower and faster. Across the finish line, although a nice first win, the crew knows that the goal to win a second Cup is far from done.
RACE 2 OF THE 32ND AMERICA’S CUP BEGINS AT 15:00 TOMORROW.
Daphne Morgan Barnicoat www.alinghi.com
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Alinghi on display on August 30, 2006. 
The America's Cup Trophy. .
The Swiss syndicate, Alinghi has won the first race against Team New Zealand over the challenge for the top yachting award, the 32nd America's Cup. Alinghi finished the race 35 seconds ahead of Team New Zealand.

In the first race of a best out of nine challenge, Alinghi and Team New Zealand started at an even pace. Team New Zealand managed to edge out 25 metres in front of Alinghi on the right hand side of the course, which Team New Zealand chose by winning the coin toss.

Team New Zealand skipper, Dean Barker said that the right hand side was the better side at the start of the race. But the wind changed and favoured Alinghi on the left hand side.

But ten minutes through the race, Alinghi's SUI-100, skippered by New Zealander Brad Butterworth, managed to head out, at times 160 metres in front of NZL-92.

"It felt really good – it was a huge relief to get out there. The racing was close, but we were pretty calm...," Alinghi trimmer Simon Daubney said.

The wind speeds were around 12.5 knots, with Alinghi grinder, Matt Welling describing the conditions as washing machine like. It has been reported that Team New Zealand modified their yacht, NZL-92, for choppy conditions.

Barker, Team New Zealand weather checker, Adam Beashell, and Daubney agree that SUI-100 isn't faster than NZL-92, and New Zealand could win in different conditions. Barker said, "You certainly couldn't blame it on our boat. We are very happy with it. It was just the way the breeze blew today. They are a very strong opponent and they got in front and controlled the race well." Daubney said, "The boat speed is pretty similar between the two, but it was puffy and the breeze was up and down, so you can’t get too much of a read on it in just one race. From a first look though, it seems the boats are pretty similar in speed."

Team New Zealand mastman, Barry McKay said the Team New Zealand will bounce back and carry on, a view also shared by Team New Zealand after-guard, Rob Salthouse.

In the last America's Cup challenge, 2003, Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand 5-0, though in 1995 and 2000, Team New Zealand defeated Alinghi.

Around 800 boats of different sizes and types gathered on the Mediterranean Sea to watch the first race.

Team New Zealand won the right to challenge Alinghi for the cup after defeating Luna Rossa Challenge five-nil for the Louis Vuitton Cup.