KEY POINTS:
VALENCIA - They always said they were going to keep it close and they did.
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Luna Rossa by 8 seconds this morning to win race one of the Louis Vuitton Cup final in Valencia.
Nothing separated the crews around the 13.2 nautical mile
course.
Going into the best of nine race series final, Team New Zealand talked a lot about their desire to keep their opponents close.
However, their fans will now be hoping they didn't mean quite this close. A series like this is going to be a strain on the heart.
This morning the America's Cup Port was laden with New Zealanders sporting banners, red socks and kiwis.
The whole Port was buzzing. The spectator fleet was perhaps the largest seen so far and hundreds turned out to watch the match of the big screens.
With all the pressure in the world on him, Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker had the measure of his rival James Spithill in the prestart.
Entering from the left Team New Zealand wanted the right and got it.
The Italians were happy enough to start to the left of the Kiwis.
Team New Zealand strategist Ray Davies said when they were coming up with their pre-start plan the course looked very steady with lots of very small shifts.
"We were fortunate we got what we wanted but we didn't have much of a weighting on it," Davies said.
Their decision to go for the right paid off as they gained off a small right hand shift in the early part of the first beat.
The small boost allowed NZL92 to get its nose in front at the first cross which was enough to allow the Kiwis to control their rivals up the first beat. Team New Zealand then gained on another small shift near the top mark which pushed their advantage out to 12 second at the top mark.
Throughout the challenger series Luna Rossa have looked strong downwind and have often gained in gybing duels. As expected they attacked on the first run and managed to reduce the Kiwis lead from around three boat lengths to around one and a half.
However, Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson was ready and the Kiwis defended hard. The Italians made a three second gain on the run rounding the gate 9 seconds behind.
On the second upwind leg it was like the pair were connected by a piece of gum. Team New Zealand would extend then Luna Rossa would reel them back.
Throughout the race both sides' boat handling - their tacks, gybes and mark roundings - were flawless.
The Kiwis etched out to a 11 second lead at weather mark. The run to the finish was torturous. With the pressure on, the Kiwis held their nerve on the final run, completing a late gybe close to the line to win by 8 seconds.
Davies said at no point did his team feel comfortable during the race.
"Certainly down the final run with Prada in a strong position behind us, it was nervous moments there where they could have got some breeze that we couldn't have done anything about.
"Fortunately we were able to hold pressure in front of them and on their right hand side."
Luna Rossa grinder New Zealander Andrew Taylor said his team's debrief was positive.
"Today we didn't win the race, there is another day tomorrow."
Race two is tonight at 1am NZT.