South Africa's Team Shosholoza has produced a stunning win over America's Cup holder Alinghi in the biggest margin so far at the Pacific Series sailing regatta.

Shosholoza was without a win in four races at the sailing regatta when it encountered the star-studded Alinghi crew on Tuesday, the final day of the regatta's first round
robin.

They entered the match race as massive underdogs but emerged with a three minute, 49 second win by taking advantage of shifting conditions on a tricky inshore course.

Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth, born and raised in Auckland, was considered the leading expert on sailing conditions on the city's Waitemata Harbour but it was the South Africans who best read the wind changes in the race.

The ten competing teams now split into a gold fleet of five and silver fleet of four for the second round of racing.

The gold fleet, comprising Alinghi, TeamOrigin, Oracle, Luna Rossa and the Italia Challenge, will compete to determine seedings for a sailoff to determine the other finalist. The top team from the silver fleet will also contest the sailoff.

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