Mike Sanderson, skipper of the Volvo Ocean race leader ABN Amro One, believes winning the first leg bodes well for the rest of the competition. Sanderson completed the 7,000-mile trip between Vigo and Cape Town at the head of a reduced five-boat field.
"History tells you the boat that has won the first leg has gone on to win the race," Sanderson told BBC Sport.
"We won't be beating that drum yet, but we are excited and if I had to pick one leg to win - this would be it."
After a dramatic opening to the race, which saw fancied pair Movistar and Pirates of the Caribbean abandon the leg in high winds, ABN AMRO One took the lead on 16 November.
Sanderson insists their first stage victory was all down to his crew's durability and quick-thinking in coping with the tough conditions.
"The ship and the crew are in the shape you'd expect after 19 days on the battlefield," said the New Zealander.
"One of the most spectacular things was how the guys battled together after the first wild night.
"We left Spain and got straight out into winds reaching 46 knots and high waves.
"The crew managed to get the boat back to 100% and that cost everyone a lot of sleep, time and energy.
"But the biggest advantage now is that we've just come through 19 days of awesome sailing."
ABN AMRO One's British crew member Rob Greenhalgh agreed surviving the gruelling weather conditions so early in the race was a useful - if harsh - lesson for the race ahead.
"The first two days we were facing 10-12 foot waves which were constantly breaking over the bow," said the 28-year-old.
"Everywhere is wet and you have to stay in your sailing gear all the time so you can be ready to go up on deck at any time.
"Conditions out there were pretty heinous.
"But the boat and the crew are awesome and our victory is a good indication of our form. So we'll go forward confidently but cautiously."
The next stage of the race, which is won by accumulating points from each leg and a series of in-port races, embarks for Melbourne on 2 January.
 The crew of the ABN AMRO One arrive safely in Cape Town in good conditions |
By that time both Pirates of the Caribbean and Movistar could be repaired and back in the race.
And Sanderson is wary that the other teams will be preparing to come back stronger for stage two.
"Of course it's going to get harder from here on in," said the 34-year-old.
"I still think Movistar is a race favourite without a doubt - we still don't know her or Pirates of the Caribbean's speed.
"Brasil 1 also had a great race while ABN Amro Two is clearly the second fastest boat on the water.
"But we will spend the next month making sure we're faster and fighting fit for the next leg.
"We'll probably have one day off for Christmas but we'll go easy on the food, sailors are professional athletes now and we have to be ready."
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The first two days we were facing 10-12 foot waves which were constantly breaking over the bow