As many should know, we’re in the thick of the America’s Cup right now. After their loss in 2003, Team New Zealand is making a great come back. So far, leading ahead of Switzerland team Alinghi, who was the winner of the last cup. One interesting tidbit to be noted, their team consists of several kiwis(whom were poached by Alinghi from Team New Zealand) as well, even their skipper is a kiwi, Brad Butterworth who jumped boat from Team New Zealand a few years ago. That just shows New Zealand produces great sailors. Hey, Auckland is not called city of sails for no reason ok. Haha.
Talking about the race, what a cry baby Brad Butterworth turned out to be! Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read the following article.
*after the second race.
From The Times
June 25, 2007New Zealand hit back hard by turning the tide against Alinghi
Matthew Pryor in ValenciaEmirates Team New Zealands momentous victory from behind against Team Alinghi, the defenders, yesterday levelled the series 1-1 and set up the possibility that the 32nd Americas Cup will be the greatest for a generation.
After the crushing defeat by Alinghi on Saturday, this was a remarkable reversal. All the more so as for the first half yesterday, the second race looked to be following the pattern of the first, as Alinghi were outmanoeuvred at the start, but surged past New Zealand in apparently the same airs. Yet Saturdays 35sec defeat became a 28sec victory. The third race in this best-of-nine event is tomorrow.
Not since 1983, when Australia II beat Dennis Conners Liberty 4-3 to take The Auld Mug away from America for the first time since the race began in 1851, has a team come back to win the Americas Cup from 1-0 down. The past three Americas Cups 1995, 2000 and 2003 have been won 5-0. But New Zealands recovery suggests that although the Americas Cup is a design race, New Zealand have not been completely outdesigned. A long port tack in the second upwind leg was decisive. They showed both skill and nerve to hold on and take advantage of the windshift. Alinghi went right and the wind went left.
If it turns out to be about windshifts, Alinghi appear to be feeling the pressure and some of the toys came out of their expensive pram. Brad Butterworth, the 48-year-old skipper, railed against spectator wash and stormed out of the press conference. In other sports he would have been fined, but billionaire-bankrolled teams manage to make themselves look amusingly amateurish sometimes.
It is an issue when youre in their wake and a washing machine, Butterworth said. We gybed at the top in a favourable shift and we didnt get the gain we expected. Maybe you can put pressure on these wallies [the Cup management] to get them off the course.
Much to everyones amusement, Butterworth said that he did not mind losing the start, because Alinghi had wanted the left anyway. Ed Baird, the Alinghi helm who has been prevented from talking, has been absent at both starts and yesterday was humiliated by Dean Barker, the New Zealand skipper and helm.
Barker sailed over the bow of Alinghi in the prestart the five minutes of positioning for the line seizing the right and Alinghis turn for the favoured starboard tack. But in lighter winds of eight to ten knots with less lumpy chop in the sea, Alinghi excelled and sailed over the top of New Zealand.
They were 19sec and three boat lengths clear by the first mark. Alinghi lost six seconds downwind, where they had looked lethal the day before, but appeared to be in control. They tacked too early, as Butterworth admitted, lost 28sec on the leg and could find no shift to take them past New Zealand downwind. Too often the outcome of the Americas Cup is decided in the first ten minutes of the first race. However, this time it may be that each race will not be decided in the first ten minutes.
There will be no repeat of Alinghis Swisswash four years ago. It is the first time Alinghi have lost in competition since BMW Oracle took one race off them in the Louis Vuitton Cup final in 2003. For the five core members of their crew Butterworth, Murray Jones, Dean Phipps, Warwick Fleury and Simon Daubney, all defectors from Team New Zealand in 2000 it was the end of 16 consecutive Americas Cup match victories.
more story – Yachting: Alinghi angry at racing in ‘Las Vegas’ lottery
A real whinger, that Brad Butterworth.
Anyway, the kiwis are now getting all excited staying up to watch the game in the early morning hours (It is held in Spain this year, which is 10 hours behind New Zealand). It is interesting to note that before Team New Zealand went on to win Louis Vuitton’s Cup and leading America’s Cup, the general public in New Zealand were not so interested in the race, with majority being very passimistic, predicting them to loose 0-5 as last time. But they care now don’t they?! Quote my kiwi mate: ‘That’s typical kiwis for ya, only love it when their team wins, and jump on the loser the minute they loss the game. Even for the All Blacks!’
So go on Team New Zealand, the kiwis are behind ya! (as long as you’re winning.)
That being said, I truly hope Team New Zealand will bring back the cup this time. They’ve sailed amazingly well, especially in the last race. It’d be interesting to see what’s up their sleeves next. As some said, it’s quite an even race, Team New Zealand with their strong team, and Alinghi with their multi million dollars boat. Who will win? The skillful sailors or the million dollars sailers? We shall find out, very soon.
