Emirates Team New Zealand won its match over Team Alinghi at the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act today, gaining a small measure of revenge for their 31st America's Cup defeat.

In March, 2003, Alinghi won its fifth consecutive race to sweep the America's Cup from New Zealand, and bring the Auld Mug to Europe.

The loss to Emirates Team New Zealand could hurt Team Alinghi on the final standings here, as the Kiwis closed to within four points of the Swiss team.

At the top of the points table, the two wins for the BMW Oracle Racing team today assured it of winning the opening Act of the 32nd America's Cup. Larry Ellison's team is clearly on a roll, winning two exhibition events in the United States, and now the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act, since bowing out to Alinghi in the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup Final.

Conditions were lighter on the Rade Sud for the first flight on Friday, with racing starting in an 8 to 10 knot Southeasterly breeze. During the first matches, the wind eased further, and patches of pressure streaked across the race course, making for a tricky day for the tacticians. The Race Committee again scheduled a two lap course, with two mile legs, keeping the races short and the boats close.

For the second flight, the wind was up to 12 to 14 knots. There were two interesting matches on offer in the the first Flight on Friday, including the match of the day between Team Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand.

The second pair to start in Flight One included the two French teams, K-Challenge and Le Défi. Skipper Philippe Presti, on Le Défi sailed a strong pre-start, and led Thierry Peponnet, steering K-Challenge, across the start line by five seconds.

Presti converted this early advantage into a lead at the top mark, and Le Défi was only threatened badly on the final run to the finish when its spinnaker exploded again. But a replacement was quickly hoisted, and Le Défi earned an important victory in the battle of the French teams.

In the third match of the first Flight, Team Shosholoza led the BMW Oracle team across the start line by five-seconds, but was no match for the experienced American team, trailing at every mark, and finishing 4:05 in arrears.

Flights 3 & 4

Team New Zealand (NZL 82) def. Alinghi (SUI 64) - 0'13"
Le Défi (FRA 69) def. K-Challenge (FRA 57) - 0'30''
BMW Oracle Racing (USA 76) def. Shosholoza (RSA 48) - 4'05''

Team New Zealand (NZL 82) def. Le Défi (FRA 69) - 2'30"
Alinghi (SUI 64) def. Shosholoza (RSA 48) - 3'33"
BMW Oracle Racing (USA 76) def. K-Challenge (FRA 57) - 1'32"