U.S. side Oracle won the opening race of the 33rd America’s Cup Friday by a comfortable 15:28 minutes over two-time defending Swiss champion Alinghi.

Oracle’s trimaran overtook Alinghi’s catamaran half-way up the 20 nautical mile upwind first leg to end up ahead by 3:21 minutes around the top mark.

It gained speed in the final 20 mile downwind leg — reaching 26 knots — to extend its lead and claim the opener by a large margin.

The U.S. side, steered by Australia’s James Spithill, who is known for his aggressive tactics, entered the start area off the port of Valencia with a burst of speed, forcing an early penalty on Alinghi for failing to keep clear.

Alinghi, steered by its owner, Swiss biotech tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli, appeared not to have completed its penalty properly at the end of the final leg, adding to its delay in crossing the finish line.

The Swiss side shed some water ballast in the final minutes of the race to try to gain power but was no match for Oracle’s trimaran, whose solid vertical wingspan of 68 meters (220 feet) is more than twice the length of a Boeing 747’s wing.

Wind speeds can be dramatically different at the top of the giant boats from at sea level and experts say stronger gusts higher up may have given Oracle, which is three storys higher than Alinghi, an edge.

The second race in the best-of-three series — a 39-mile triangle — is slated for Sunday off the Mediterranean port of Valencia.