KEY POINTS:
Team New Zealand will today race in the first of a handful of juicy encounters when they take on Russell Coutts' BMWOracle Racing.
The last time Dean Barker went head-to-head with his former mentor was in 2003, when Coutts, then skipper for Alinghi, sailed away with the America's
Cup.
The showdown will take place in the two BMWOracle boats the American syndicate have loaned for the regatta, with Emirates Team New Zealand drawing USA 98 and Oracle drawing USA 87.
While the hosts are already guaranteed a spot in the final, Barker said they don't plan on taking it easy out on the water.
"We still want to perform as well as we can all the way through the round robins. Our first step is to qualify for the gold fleet and if we can do that, our next objective is to do well in that round," he said.
Team New Zealand yesterday opened their campaign with a workman-like performance against Damiani Italia, overcoming premier Italian sailor Vasco Vascotto's team by 19s.
There were moments when the newly- formed Italian syndicate looked threatening, particularly in the second upwind leg when they took off up the left-hand side of course, while the Kiwis opted to protect the right-hand side.
By the time the two boats converged further up the course, Barker's healthy 25s lead at the second mark had been cut down to one boat length, after the Italians picked up a favourable wind shift. But Team New Zealand remained in control by tacking over top of Damiani Italia, which forced the Italians to tack twice heading in to the top mark.
Team New Zealand grabbed one point for the win, with French syndicate K-Challenge collecting the other point on offer in pool A, after overcoming China Team in an eventful opening race of the day.
China Team got the better of the French on the startline, but copped a penalty at the top mark and K-Challenge raced ahead.
Team Origin also picked up a win on the opening day, beating experienced Italian syndicate Luna Rossa. Alinghi had a big win over the Greek Challenge in the final race of the day.
FIRST ROUND
Pool A
* K-Challenge (France) bt China team by 1m 02s
* Emirates Team New Zealand bt Italia Challenge by 19s
* BMWOracle (US) bye
Pool B
* Team Origin (Britain) bt Luna Rossa (Italy) by 1m 05s
* Alinghi (Switzerland) bt Greek Challenge by 2m 02s
* Team Shosholoza (South Africa) bye
TODAY'S RACES
Pool A
* BMWOracle v Team New Zealand
* China Team v Damiani Italia
Pool B
* Team Shosholoza v Greek Challenge
* Luna Rossa v Alinghi