At 10.45 yesterday the four America’s Cup teams competing in the Jeep Challenge 2006 set out for the first of two round robins scheduled.

Light northerly winds of around 3-4 knots allowed the race Committee to start 10 of the 12 regattas in the program.

The first match saw the Swedes of Victory Challenge up against the United Internet Team germany. The Germans, with skipper Michael Hestbaek at the helm, finish approximately thirty seconds ahead of Mattias Rahm.

Desafio Espanol 2007 and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team competed in the second match which saw Italy’s Vasco Vascotto take victory over Spaniard Santiago Lopez Vazquez.

Racing continued with United Internet Team Germany triumphing again, this time beating Desafio Espagnol 2007 over the finish line by 20 seconds. Victory Challenge meanwhile beat Mascalzone Latino by 25 seconds.

In the third and final flight of the first round robin Mascalzone Latino finished just ahead of Team Germany in a hard-fought regatta and Victory Challenge beat Desafio Espanol 2007.

The final two flights saw a strong United Internet Team Germany beat first Victory Challenge and then Desafio Espanol 2007.

The Spaniards lost out again to Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team and in the final race Mascalzone’s Vascotto was pipped to the post by Victory Challenge.

Racing is scheduled to start at 11.30 am tomorrow with the final two races of the second round robin followed by the semi-finals. The forecast predicts similar conditions to today, with clear blue skies and light and variable breezes.