America's Cup holder Alinghi drew first blood in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series' challenger final, sneaking home by one second ahead of bitter rival Oracle.

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The Pacific Series was set up to give the America's Cup crews time on the water while lawyers for Alinghi and Oracle's backers are locked in a complex battle in the New York Court of Appeals over rules for the next America's Cup.

Hours after lawyers made their final legal arguments, Oracle looked to have it locked up until the run home when Alinghi, skippered by Brad Butterworth, latched on to a windshift to overtake Oracle just short of the line.

The remaining races in the best-of-three challenger final will be raced on Thursday with the winner racing hosts Team New Zealand in the regatta final on Friday and Saturday.

Oracle made the challenger final after a dramatic finish in their quarter-final against Luna Rossa when skipper Russel Coutts pulled off a masterful penalty turn to cross nine-seconds clear.

In the semi-finals, Oracle won by 35 seconds over Italia Challenge, who had earlier eliminated the British entry Team Origin.

In New York, Oracle is seeking to overturn an earlier court ruling that backed a Spanish club as challenger of record for the 33rd America's Cup rather than San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club, which backs Oracle.