Emirates Team New Zealand are off to a strong start in the Preliminary Regatta of the 37th America's Cup, after winning their race, the second one on the first day of the regatta.

The first day was a day of mixed fortunes, drama, desperation, nail-biting excitement, exquisite light-airs technique and tension untold with a new name on the podium and brilliance shining through.

Andy Maloney, the trimmer in the starboard pod onboard Emirates Team New Zealand behind skipper Pete Burling, talked through the Kiwi light-airs technique.

"It definitely takes all four of us to tack the boat and we’ve all got to be super accurate through the manoeuvre," says Andy.

"The difference is perhaps half a knot of breeze but we know exactly what we’re trying to achieve in those tacks  and between races we did a good job of practicing them and then going into that second race we were really confident that if we could get up on the foils, that we’d be able to manoeuvre around the racetrack and we were just pretty pleased that once we did get up and foiling that we executed those manoeuvres.

“Once we were the only boat up and foiling it wasn’t about VMG, it was about staying on the foils, and we just wanted to make sure that we had enough pace to foil through the lulls and then hopefully link up with a nice little puff to execute the next manoeuvre," says Andy talking about the final run where precision and execution were everything.

Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo: Supplied.

Yves Detrey, trimmer onboard Alinghi Red Bull Racing who were arguably one gybe away from a win in the second race, looked dejected at the result but positive about how the team are improving.

“You need a little bit of luck. We dropped off the foils just before the start (of the second race) and then we had that little puff to get back up on the foil and get back to the line and start racing," says Yves.

"It was very marginal all the way around. We did some very nice manoeuvres at the right time, but unfortunately on the very last one, we didn’t quite nail it. It’s a fine balance between your entry speed, your exit, your positions on the sails, your trimming of the sails, board raise, everything together. It feels a little bit bitter for us because we didn’t get that last gybe but for sure we’ve been looking quite nice, and we take the positives through to tomorrow.”

Crowds watching the races. Photo: Supplied.

Jimmy Spithill, helmsman of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was open and honest about the first race where the team were incorrectly scored a DNS (Did Not Start) and revealed that the team are challenging the decision at a hearing later this evening.

“I think it’s quite clear that there’s a mistake that’s been made by the umpires and race management and we’re going to go to a hearing tonight."  

[Note: Following that hearing and a review of the starting protocols undertaken on course, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have been re-instated in second place in Race 1, scoring 7 points.]

Jimmy did however give credit to Emirates Team New Zealand on a day where take-off and maintaining power was tough.

“When there’s not enough wind, yes it’s very tricky to take off. We actually did the same (as Emirates Team New Zealand), we got up and going again in that last race on port tack but unfortunately at that point we ended up right at the boundary with no wind and had to tack.

"We just couldn’t finish the acceleration to pull off the tack, but the Kiwis did and full credit to them.”

Flotilla of spectators. Photo: Supplied.

Riley Gibbs, the 26 year-old trimmer onboard NYYC American Magic certainly wasn't dwelling on the experience of the day.

“After a day like that, it was quite punishing, but we’re really focussed on tomorrow and what’s ahead so we’re not going to dwell on it too hard… looking forward to tomorrow and we’re hopeful of a better forecast," says Riley.

"In that last race we were actually ahead of New Zealand (before they got foiling) and we should have done a better job of covering them after the tack and yeah in these foiling boats, it’s a bit like surfing or any dynamic sport, you get a bit of a bump behind you and it’s easier to surf and accelerate.

"It was easier to get up on port tack with the waves behind, starboard was into the waves and despite the righty pressure it was always false hope.”

For Ben Ainslie, skipper of INEOS Britannia, he fronted the questions with his usual honesty.

“It wasn’t a great day for us. Very difficult conditions and I think our lack of time in the boat really showed against some of the other teams who were much slicker than us and did a much better job than we did," says Ben.

"I suppose  if I was looking for positives, it feels like we are getting better in terms of sticking some of these lighter airs manoeuvres but still not as good as some of the other teams. We’re making steps forward but perhaps not quick enough for now and when you’re out racing you want to be at the front of the fleet and not the back.”