Ben Ainslie and Britain reign supreme in 1st SailGP race

 Ben Ainslie's Britain team completed a near-perfect first round of SailGP series on Sydney Harbour with a convincing win over defending champions Australia in match-race final on Saturday.

British boat, skippered by four-time Olympic gold medalist Ainslie, won first four of five fleet races, with Tom Slingsby's Australia taking fifth. That win, which followed a second place in Saturday's opening fleet race, clinched a spot in final for Australian boat.

Australians had a pre-start penalty before final and Britain charged away to register a convincing win.

Slingsby and his crew started day level on points with Japan, skippered by Australian Nathan Outteridge, who tched two thirds on Saturday.

"Tommy and Aussies are home-town favorites, it was great to be up against m in match race and to come out on top is a brilliant start for us," Ainslie said. "I've got to give all credit to team, it's a team sport.

"I don't think I've ever stepped on to a boat like this where I've just been able to put it where I want to put it on race course and guys will take care of rest."

Japan finished third overall, followed by Spain, United States, Denmark and France.

next round of 2020 SailGP will be held in San Francisco in May, followed by stops in New York, Cowes, England and Copenhn.