Despite their cover of relative anonymity having been blown, young gun sailor Adam Minoprio and his BlackMatch Racing crew have made a strong start to the Congressional Cup in California.
After becoming the youngest winner on the World Match Racing Tour with his victory in the opening event at Marseille
this month, Minoprio, 23, no longer has the benefit of being able to catch his opponents off-guard.
But that has not stopped him from making an impact on day one of the prestigious Congressional Cup match racing regatta.
Minoprio is third equal in the standings after recording four wins and two losses on the opening day of racing, including a win over world number one Sebastien Col of France in his final race of the day.
2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Terry Hutchinson of the United States leads the 10-strong field after day one with Team Origin skipper and triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie in second place. Minoprio and Italy's Franchesco Bruni are in third equal position on four points.
Round robin racing will continue today with the sailors completing a double round before the top four advance through to the semifinals and finals on Sunday.
Although the Congressional Cup is not part of the World Match Racing Tour, it is regarded as a big event on the match racing calendar.
The regatta is steeped in tradition with the winner receiving a crimson blazer, just as a Masters golf winner gets a green jacket.
Team New Zealand sailing coach Rod Davis, who has been recruited to join Minoprio as tactician in the BlackMatch Racing team for the Long Beach event, has won four crimson blazers, the last of which was 16 years ago.
CONGRESSIONAL CUP
Long Beach, California
Standings (after day one):
1 Terry Hutchinson (USA) 6 points
2 Ben Ainslie (GBR) 5
3 Franchesco Bruni (ITL) 4
4 Adam Minoprio (NZL) 4
5 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) 3
6 Philippe Presti (FRA) 2
7 Mathieu Richard (FRA) 2
8 Sebastien Col (FRA) 2
9 Staffan Lindberg (FIN) 1
10 Brian Angel (USA) 1
