Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie hates losing, but wasn't too distraught yesterday when he was beaten by Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker on on the opening day of the national matchracing championships.
Barker and Ainslie, who is Emirates Team New Zealand's new strategist, are first and second in thefour-day regatta on the Waitemata Harbour.
With just five flights completed in the fluky conditions off Westhaven Marina yesterday, Barker was unbeaten in all his races, while Ainslie slipped up just once - against Barker.
"It was really light winds and he had a much better start," Ainslie said. "He did really well and just sailed away from us in much better winds. But if we are going to lose to anyone, I'd rather to lose to Dean."
Ainslie claimed his third Olympic medal at Athens, winning the Finn class.
"It [matchracing] is quite tricky because it is such a different mindset.
"With fleet racing you are obviously just worried about yourself and sailing the boat as quickly as possible around the course.
"Here, you have one other boat and they are trying to stuff you up, and you are trying to do a similar job to them."
Ainslie, who has now moved to Auckland for Team New Zealand's summer training programme, which starts next week, has the syndicate's afterguard coach Rod Davis sailing alongside him.
"There are not many people more experienced than Rod. I am sure I must be frustrating for him at times, seeing the obvious mistakes, but I think you have to make mistakes to learn from them.
"The tricky part for me is the starting. That is where all the big manoeuvres are, so until I get used to every scenario, it will be a little bit hard."
The championships have attracted a star-studded line-up, with BMW Oracle sailors Chris Dickson and Bertrand Pace, and Australian Michael Dunstan, who will helm the Australian America's Cup entry OZ Boys challenge if they go ahead, among the 10 crews.
Dickson's brother Scott is also competing, as are up-and-coming matchracing Auckland brothers Adam and Simon Minoprio.
For Adam, who is just 19, competing alongside Dickson, Barker and Ainslie must be overwhelming.
A member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Lion Foundation youth development programme, the younger Minoprio was invited to compete in the regatta.
