After overcoming experienced Italian side Luna Rossa on day one, the British syndicate pulled off another impressive win, beating Switzerland's Alinghi by 36 seconds.

 

It was the biggest scalp so far in the first three days of racing on the Waitemata Harbor and owed much to the aggressive tactics of Ainslie, who won his third consecutive gold medal at last year's Olympics and was voted the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year.

 

He forced Alinghi over the start line just one second before the gun.

 

After circling back to restart, the Swiss trailed by over a minute behind at the first weather mark and although they closed the distance, never got back in the race.

 

Sir Keith, the chief executive of London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and is now the deputy chairman, arrived in New Zealand just as the team he has put together and is bankrolling crossed the line.

Mike Sanderson, who is Tteam director for Team Origin, said: "Ben did a fantastic job, giving them [Alinghi] a little push.

 

"It made it pretty tough for them to get back behind the line.”

 

But Sanderson refused to get carried away.

 

 

He said: "We've got a long way to go."