The world champion men's pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond led a fantastic charge on day one of the Hamburg World Cup Regatta, with New Zealand rowers winning all of the heats they contested and making direct progress to finals or semi-finals.
Murray and Bond utterly dominated their heat, surging ahead early on and romping away to a time just a few seconds shy of the world record and 23 seconds clear of their nearest rivals and will start as clear favourites in Monday's final.
Also fastest and heading into Monday's final as favourites was the women's world champion pair of Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown.
Men's lightweight single sculler Duncan Grant looked back to his best after a so-so 2010 dogged by injury comfortably winning his race having taken control early on.
Men's double scull world champions Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan got their 2011 campaign off to a great start as well, with a win and the fastest of the two heats.
Cohen and Sullivan progress directly to the final and will also be the crew expected to figure strongly for the win.
The new men's four - with Ben Hammond and Chris Harris from last year's promising eight now joining 2007 world champs James Dallinger and Carl Meyer - made a superb debut, also winning their heat to qualify directly for the final.
The 2009 world champions lightweight double scullers, Peter Taylor and Storm Uru, progressed to the semi final with a win in their heat - one of four in this hotly contested Olympic class.
Emma Twigg continued the New Zealanders unbeaten run with a late surge to take out her heat - and a significant one it was with 2010 world champion Frida Svennson from Sweden managing only third.
Arch rival for both - and silver medal winner in 2010 - Ekaterina Karsten ran in the third heat of three and also progressed along with Twigg into Sunday's semi finals.
Four time world champion Mahé Drysdale, keen to test a new training regime designed to help protect his problematic back, was the fastest of the heat winners and will be aiming to maintain winning pace in Saturday's semi finals.
