Defending champion Alinghi begins the first European defense of the Auld Mug in its 156-year history when the best-of-nine match race series begins Saturday off Port America's Cup.

"Four years of waiting, four years of great work. Yes, I'm excited," Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli said today.

Emirates Team New Zealand won the coin toss to determine entry positions, and will have the advantageous starboard side for each odd-numbered race.

Whether that provides Emirates Team New Zealand with a psychological boost in the repeat of the 2003 final — which the Swiss team swept 5-0 in Auckland, New Zealand — is inconsequential to the Kiwis.

"Certainly there are a lot of lessons we can take from 2003," said Kiwi helmsman Dean Barker, who is sailing in his third America's Cup. "It made the guys a lot tougher mentally. But it's such a long time ago now that you have to let it go eventually."

Alinghi has been watching from the sidelines since it won Louis Vuitton Act 13 — the last of the fleet races involving the defender and 11 challengers — in mid-April.

Aside from in-house training, Alinghi has sailed with Desafio Espanol and Luna Rossa in practice in the past month.

Even Emirates Team New Zealand sparred with the Swiss syndicate before completing a 5-0 sweep over the Italians in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.