SailGP: Peter Burling and his New Zealand team dominate first day in Christchurch

This was almost the perfect homecoming for Peter Burling and his New Zealand team.

Not even an unscheduled arrival of a couple of dolphins, which forced the opening race to be delayed, could shake the New Zealanders’ resolve on Lyttelton​ Harbour on Saturday.

Burling and his crew warmed the hearts of Kiwi fans with their exploits in the gusty, shifting winds when they lit-up the SailGP course by securing a win and two seconds in the three fleet races on the first day of the regatta.

This, remember, was the first time SailGP had been staged in Aotearoa and although New Zealand driver Burling was careful not to pile any pressure on himself and his crew before the event, they would have been content, and possibly relieved, to give their supporters plenty to toast and cheer about under the clear skies in Canterbury.

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If you were to pick out the best effort by the New Zealanders, it’s difficult to overlook what they achieved in the second race; following an impressive start, they cemented their lead in the third leg and benefited from the Australians falling off their foils when they turned at the fifth gate.

Inside the natural amphitheatre of the harbour the New Zealand boat Amokura, which had been patched-up after being struck by lightning in Singapore in January, revelled under the control of Burling and Blair Tuke.

A delay to the start of the first race, caused by several dolphins on the racecourse, didn’t distract French driver Quentin Delapierre from his task as he guided his F50 to victory.

The Kiwis emphasised their prowess when they recovered from a poor start; they were seventh at the second gate before making a fine recovery to be second on the third leg, a position they never relinquished.

Then came the backlash, as they took the honours in the second race.

A penalty before the start of the third race forced the New Zealanders to the back of the field, but a fine comeback resulted in them charging back to finish second behind Canada.

A further two fleet races will be staged on Sunday followed by the regatta final, which is a one-off race featuring the top three teams based on points accumulated.

“I almost thought it might get a bit windier than it did, definitely some of the forecasts were right up that upper end,’’ Burling said. “But it was such a flat water it was nice to be able to turn the boat around and it made life easier.’’

All teams had a less than ideal build-up to the regatta, described by some as F1 racing on water, when the practice day on Friday was cancelled. Whether the winds will be as blustery on Sunday, and who can master them best, could be crucial.

“We will have to wait and see. I don’t think the forecast is that good, the detail around the sea breeze. It will be interesting to see what we get tomorrow.’’

Before this event Australia held a comfortable 12-point buffer at the top of the table, with second-placed New Zealand under pressure from France, Great Britain and Denmark.

The final regatta will be held in San Francisco in early May, with the US$1m winner-takes-all title race to feature the top three teams.

Points after three races: New Zealand 28, Canada 24, Great Britain 23, France 21, Australia 18, USA 16, Switzerland 14, Denmark 10, Spain 8.