32nd America's Cup 2007

32nd America's Cup 2007

Alinghi face NZ in first America's Cup race

(Corrects start time to 1300GMT from 1400GMT in third para)
VALENCIA, June 23 (Reuters) - Alinghi and Team New Zealand take to the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday in the first race of a first-to-five match for the prized America's Cup.

Team New Zealand are aiming to bury the memory of their defeat by the Swiss syndicate four years ago by winning the 32nd event in the history of the "Auld Mug" -- and with it the right to set the date, place and rules for the next one.

Racing in the waters off the Spanish port of Valencia, chosen by defender Alinghi for the promise of predictable breezes and purpose-built facilities, is set for 1300 GMT.
Organisers say the forecast is for a sea breeze with winds of 12 to 15 knots, perfect conditions for the high-tech carbon fibre boats.

New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, 34, and Alinghi's American helm Ed Baird, 49, are both renowned for their tight match racing style, raising expectations of a closer scoreline than in the last six America's Cups when the loser failed to win a race.

However, the big unknown is the speed of Alinghi boat SUI100, which has not been used in the build-up Louis Vuitton series and will make its racing debut against Team New Zealand.

"They have kept their boat away from prying eyes ... Hopefully they are not going to be miles quicker than (SUI) 91," Barker told reporters at a pre-match briefing on Friday.

In the 17-man team will be Ernesto Bertarelli, the billionaire whose personal fortune and desire to win the America's Cup brought it back to Europe after 152 years when Alinghi beat New Zealand 5-0 off Auckland.

Team New Zealand won the coin toss on Friday and chose the favoured starboard tack entry into the start box.