Mascalzone Latino (left) beat TNZ by 15 seconds

The Kiwis lost their first race to Italian syndicate Mascalzone Latino after four windless days prevented any action in the challenger series.

America's BMW Oracle, Mascalzone Latino and fellow Italians Luna Rossa all opened with two wins out of two.

The two-month event features 11 yachts and will determine who challenges holders Alinghi for the America's Cup.

The highly regarded Team New Zealand, helmed by Kiwi Dean Barker ahead of Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, lost by 15 seconds to Mascalzone Latino.

"It was not the result we wanted," said Team New Zealand chief Grant Dalton.

We could not have asked for a better way to start the Louis Vuitton Cup BMW Oracle navigator Peter Isler

"Mascalzone Latino showed again that their new boat is a good package and in these light and shifty conditions they outsailed us on the first beat.

"They were able to hold us upwind and when they got a favourable wind shift to the right on the first beat we knew it would be hard to find a passing lane."

The Kiwis, who had a bye for the second flight, lost the America's Cup to Swiss challengers Alinghi when they were whitewashed 5-0 in Auckland in 2003.

BMW Oracle, helmed by owner Larry Ellison, the software billionaire, led from start to finish in the light airs to sail to easy wins over United Internet Team Germany and China Team.

"We could not have asked for a better way to start the Louis Vuitton Cup," said navigator Peter Isler.

"The big question was how would everybody react after four days of no racing and waiting for the wind. I think we got high marks for that."

Luna Rossa beat the Chinese and Sweden's Victory Challenge, while Mascalzone Latino beat the New Zealanders and France's Areva Challenge.

In other action, Areva, Victory, Spain's Desafio Espanol and Team Shosholoza of South Africa all recorded one win.

Italy's +39 Challenge, struggling after breaking their mast in training, lost twice, as did United Internet Team Germany.

First round:
Mascalzone Latino (Ita) bt Team New Zealand (NZ) by 15 seconds
Areva Challenge (Fra) bt +39 Challenge (Ita) by 1.09
BMW Oracle Racing (USA) bt United Internet Team Germany (Ger) by 2.00
Victory Challenge (Swe) bt Team Shosholoza (SA) by .46
Luna Rossa Challenge (Ita) bt China Team (Chi) by 2.07

Exempt: Desafio Espanol (Spa)

Second round:
Desafio Espanol (Spa) bt +39 Challenge (Ita) by 2.45
Mascalzone Latino (Ita) bt Areva Challenge (Fra) by 1.41
Team Shosholoza (SA) bt United Internet Team Germany (Ger) by 1.10
BMW Oracle Racing (USA) bt China Team (Chi) by 4.36
Luna Rossa Challenge (Ita) bt Victory Challenge (Swe) by 1.07

Exempt: Team New Zealand (NZ)

Round robin standings (after two flights):
BMW Oracle (US) 7
Luna Rossa (Ita) 7
Mascalzone Latino (Ita) 6
Desafio Espanol (Spa) 5
Team New Zealand 4
Victory Challenge (Swe) 4
Team Shosholza (SA) 4
Areva (Fra) 3
+39 (Ita) 2
United Internet Team Germany 1
China Team 1