Sitting crossed-legged on the floor, many waved their New Zealand flags, others squashed into armchairs two at a time, taking edge-of-the-seat nerves to another level.
Nerves, anticipation and excitement began to escalate, with some eschewing the tea and coffee for something a bit stronger to calm their frayed nerves, despite the early hour.
Then it began, with a loud cheer as Dean Barker and his crew crossed the start line. But the good spirits soon turned to nervous tension as the Kiwi boat struggled to keep pace with the Americans.
Cheers of support and yells of encouragement continued throughout, with one fan waving a `Dean for PM' placard.
A sporting round of applause went around the packed clubhouse as Oracle raced over the finish line, in acknowledgement of a good performance - but that was nothing to the hearty cheer that followed as Team NZ came in behind.
Tension over, it wasn't long before the positivity kicked in again and the excitement began to grow once more ahead of the second race.
But as the decision to cancel was heard coming from the big screen a loud sigh of disappointment could be heard from the whole clubhouse.
And with that it was over for another day, with most people dashing off to work or school, whichever one they had ditched to catch the race.
Emotions ranged from ``frustrated'' to ``shattered'', and even ``positive''.
Grey Hutchinson said he had believed today would be the winning race, saying: ``I thought conditions this morning were going to be perfect.
"You've got to think at 8-2 we will do it, we've only got to win one race.''
The squadron - which was decked out in streamers and flags, as well as two giant red socks - will be the host club if Team NZ wins the Cup.
Vice Commodore Andy Anderson, said this morning's result had turned the race into "a real yachting regatta''.
"We've got two very well matched teams, we've seen that, but we're coming out fighting,'' he said. ``Oracle have got nothing to lose and we've got everything to gain.''
