Team New Zealand have taken their first point of the Louis Vuitton Cup, albeit a hollow one.
With Italian team Luna Rossa boycotting the first round robin match, all Dean Barker and his crew had to do to get on the board was turn up and complete the course.
The team were offered the choice by regatta director Iain Murray of completing a shorter course, but, keen for his team to get in as much practice as they could on the race track, Barker opted for the full-length course.
Without another boat to duel with in the startbox, Team New Zealand flew the startline in full foiling mode after timing their dial-up perfectly. Sailing in moderate winds, which peaked at around 15 knots, Team New Zealand reached speeds of 42.8 knots downwind as they blitzed the San Francisco course in around 45 minutes.
Prior to racing this morning Luna Rossa released a statement clarifying their decision not to turn up for their opening match. The Italian team, along with Emirates Team New Zealand, have lodged a protest with the international jury over Murray's attempts to alter the design rules just a week out from the start of racing.
Luna Rossa skipper Max Sirena said his team will not race until the jury has ruled on their protest, as a matter of principle.
"By racing under these rules, enforced by the regatta director ... we would somehow silently approve them. This is not the case, therefore we have no choice but to stay ashore until the international jury has reached a decision on the matter," said Sirena.
"We have been forced into this position. We did not come to San Francisco to watch races, but to race."
During the "dock-out show" at the America's Cup village, in which the sailing team are called on to the main stage for a quick Q&A session before they taking to their AC72 race boat, Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton won over the crowd with his assessment of the Luna Rossa no-show.
"I respect what Luna Rossa are doing, but Christ almighty, this is a boat race," said Dalton.
America's Cup chief executive Stephen Barclay has also reiterated his disappointment that the Italians had decided not to front.
Barclay's organisation has had the difficult task of trying to explain to fans and the public why the brilliant racing spectacle that had been promised has not eventuated.
"We've done a lot to try and communicate with the public not just what is happening with the first race, but also the issue around Artemis Racing. I think the public is well aware that we all want to see the boats go racing but here for the first race one of the teams has decided not to participate," he said.
The jury hearing is set down for tomorrow, with an outcome expected by Thursday at the latest. An America's Cup official said it is unlikely a decision will be released tomorrow, and while they are hopeful of hearing back from the jury on Wednesday, it is more likely it will be Thursday.
Earlier this morning Team New Zealand received a rousing send-off from their base at pier 30-32 by Maori cultural group Te Waka Huia, who blessed their AC72 as it was being hoisted into the water ahead of the first race.
- Dana Johansen of the New Zealand Herald in San Francisco
