Team NZ win Louis Vuitton opener 

Source: ReutersTeam New Zealand's crew hard at work in Nice

Team New Zealand have opened their campaign at the newest Loius Vuitton sailign event with a win.

Half of the opening day's scheduled matches at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d'Azur were completed in conditions that challenged race officials and tended to favour the leading yachts.

Britain's TeamOrigin and Emirates Team New Zealand share the top spot on the leaderboard after scoring triumphs in light and shifty winds.

Team New Zealand defeated TFS by 59 seconds after a spirited pre-start resulted in a split tack start with the Kiwis on starboard tack and TFS-Pages Jaunes on port.

Dean Barker, Team New Zealand's skipper, held control of the race throughout, rarely giving his counterpart, Bertrand Pacé, a chance to come back.

Barker says it was a tough day.

"Adam (Beashel, strategist) was up the rig and having difficulty assessing which side was better. It was difficult because the wind never established a gradient flow. We preferred the left initially, then wanted the right but there was no clear pattern. I think we were always in control, but it's hard to close races out when you sail in those conditions".

Team New Zealand's biggest lead was one minute, 39 seconds at the leeward gate.

The wind was light and shifty all day as an offshore breeze battled a gradient wind. It ranged in strength between three and 10 knots while shifting between the southwest and north/northwest.

TeamOrigin won by one minute, 36 seconds over Russia Synergy with Mike Sanderson, TeamOrigin General Manager saying: "It got a little tense at the end. It was a little bit worrying because it got as light as three knots and we saw a 60-degree wind shift. Ben (Ainslie, skipper) did a nice job off the start line, getting the red-flag penalty".

The combined French/German team ALL4ONE face Emirates Team New Zealand on Monday.

Other scheduled matches include Artemis versus TFS - Pages Jaunes, BMW ORACLE Racing versus Russia Synergy and TeamOrigin versus Azzurra.

ONE Sport's yachting correspondent Martin Tasker is in Nice - follow his blog HERE