Burling: Series ‘will get harder’

Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling was thrilled to open the America’s Cup match with two wins, but is ‘‘under no illusions’’ that the defenders will come back at them.

Starting the match one point in arrears after Oracle Team USA won the earlier round-robins to secure a bonus point, Team NZ showed incredible boat speed to win the opening races in Bermuda yesterday and take a 1-0 lead in the race to seven victories to earn the Auld Mug.

Winning both starts against an aggressive Jimmy Spithill, the Kiwis held on for two wire to wire finishes – by 30s and 1m 28s.

But there were a couple of heart-stopping moments at the end of the first race and the middle stage of the second race where New Zealand mistakes almost let Oracle back in the hunt.

The Kiwis regathered themselves to see out what should have been even more comfortable wins in races held in the 7-10 knots range which suited their superior light air foils package.

‘‘We have to win eight races and we are really happy to get two wins on the board early,’’ Burling said.

‘‘It was really fun yachting out there. It felt like our boat was going very fast and that is really pleasing.

‘‘But we are under no illusions that it is going to get harder than that, and it was relatively hard today.

‘‘If it’s one thing these guys have shown, it’s that they fight incredibly hard and we are just preparing for that battle over the next couple of days.’’

The next two races are today and Burling wants better from his team.

‘‘I’m really happy on the whole with the composure the guys showed today to hold on to those leads and convert it.’’

Burling conceded it wasn’t just about boat handling though. The course had a fair few holes in it