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(Reuters) - After
losing all of their races in the December regatta INEOS Team UK
staged a remarkable turnaround on Friday to win their opening
two races of the Challenger Series, which determines who meets
Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.
'Britannia' claimed a dominant 80-second win over American Magic
in the opening race of the day on Waitemata Harbour in Auckland
before beating Italy's Luna Rossa by 28 seconds.
"That feels a lot better than six consecutive losses," said
skipper Ben Ainslie. "That was a good team effort."
Ainslie said tactician Giles Scott's breeze calls were key
against Luna Rossa.
"Giles did a great job calling the breeze and the guys sailing
the boat fast and the handling. It was a good team effort," he
added.
American Magic helmsman Dean Barker said there was a long way to
go.
"It's early days, it's one race, we obviously would have much
preferred to have come out with a win, but at the same time,
it's a long series and we've got to keep improving," he said.
Luna Rossa face American Magic in the first race on Saturday,
with the U.S. team facing INEOS Team UK again in the second.
The winner of the series earns the right to face TNZ for the
America's Cup, which begins on March 6.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru;Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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