Alinghi helmsman Peter Holmberg has opened a 5-0 lead in early round racing at St. Moritz Match Race, Stage 3 of the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour.

Holmberg looked on form despite not having sailed a Grade 1 event since finishing eighth here last year. His time has been consumed with testing and training for Alinghi’s defense of the America’s Cup.

Day 1 of the 4th annual regatta at the top of the world got off to a slow start. A weather system produced rain showers in the morning and sapped the area of wind.

Group A took to Lake St. Moritz for racing shortly after midday, but could only complete its pre-round fleet race. The wind died away afterwards and as the time approached 3:00 pm the race committee postponed the seven crews for the day. That put Group B on the water and the local Maloja wind filled to provide the energy to get the boats around the course.

Sébastian Col (FRA), Areva Challenge, is gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive Grade 1 victory. He finished the day at 3-2 and was mostly pleased, although he said his crew has to be more flexible when it comes to reading the wind.

The field of 14 has been split into two groups of seven. Each will sail a single round robin with the top three from each advancing to the Quarterfinal Round. The remaining teams sail a repechage round with the top two advancing to the quarters.

Group B will be first on the water tomorrow to sail the two remaining flights. After that Group A will go out for its seven flights.

Résultats du Groupe A

Flight 1 : Sébastian Col bat Wearn Haw Tan - Eric Monnin bat Flavio Favini - Peter Holmberg bat Ian Ainslie

Flight 2 : Eric Monnin bat Paolo Cian - Peter Holmberg bat Sébastian Col - Wearn Haw Tan vs. Ian Ainslie (both disqualified for sailing wrong course)

Flight 3 : Paolo Cian bat Flavio Favini - Ian Ainslie bat Sébastian Col - Peter Holmberg bat Wearn Haw Tan

Flight 4 : Sébastian Col bat Paolo Cian - Peter Holmberg bat Eric Monnin - Flavio Favini bat Wearn Haw Tan

Flight 5 : Peter Holmberg bat Paolo Cian - Sébastian Col bat Flavio Favini - Eric Monnin bat Ian Ainslie Bye: Wearn Haw Tan