Although Team New Zealand lost the match, they fought it out until the end. We should be proud of them.
They put it all on the line but weren’t good enough.
The positives are that Alinghi are not a generation ahead and Team NZ should be at the next cup. Not a lot needs to change. The regatta started off with a bit of a debacle with all the delays and finished in a bizarre manner.
Although they are raving about the venue being brilliant, I am not so sure about that. The shore base is excellent but not so the sailing conditions. The lack of a consistent wind was disappointing.
In race three, Alinghi bagged the race officer and to have a finish like yesterday, where the breeze collapsed so quickly, was alarming.
Off the line, it was a good start from Dean Barker but Alinghi, in a compromised position, hung on.
The race was a classic day of how powerful it was on the right-hand side of your opposition. The power was really on the right on the upwinds. Sailing on the left, Team NZ, on both upwind legs, were bow forward but were unable to capitalise on that.
On the downwind, Team NZ did well to roll Alinghi on the first run. At the bottom mark gate, the Kiwis took the right-hand gate looking down and got passed both times.
The last downwind was bizarre. At the top mark, Alinghi did a dial down. The boat on starboard has the rights, which was Alinghi. The dial down was a set move. Alinghi had practised it. Alinghi dialled down when the New Zealanders dialled down and held their course. Team NZ were ruled not to have kept clear. It was a penalty.
Most of us thought the game was over but then, on the downwind, the breeze collapsed near the finish and we saw Team NZ get rid of their penalty and miss going into the eighth race by one second. What a race it was.
July 5, 2007 at 9:23 am |
Thank you for the good sporting comments on the day, Peter. They had the faster boat–fi only by a fraction–and they had the better team on the days.
Once again, NZ had gear failure. I’d like to hear the skinny. How many perfect, unused sails did NZ start the Cup race with? Did they have to re-use sails from the challenger series?
Who made the decision to try a new coating on the baot deck–the coating that supposedly ripped the sail? With so much pressure from all corners to keep the race in Europe, is there any thought of insider sabatoge?
Poor Deano. What a brilliant yachtsman. To get so far and to be hamstrung by gear failure. Again. His body language said it all. He was shattered by that blowout.
Maybe NZ should let him go. Free Deano to a team that isn’t plagued by gear failure in the final races.
July 5, 2007 at 10:11 am |
Yeah Peter, thanks for providing a wonderful forum for us to chat, vent and generally have a good time.
July 5, 2007 at 3:46 pm |
Hi Peter,
Thank you for this forum, definately added to the experience, I look forward to learning from you again in 2009(or when the next cup is).
Cheers
Tom
July 6, 2007 at 7:58 am |
Time to dust of KZ1 perhaps? New boats guys!! http://www.sail-world.com/news_special_new.cfm?Nid=35379&SEid=362&SRCID=8&RequestTimeOut=180
July 6, 2007 at 9:18 am |
Yeah. New boats. But look at the way Alinghi is setting up the competition. Challengers will be allowed one new boat, but Alinghi may hold a trial to select a defender, which means they can have two goes at interpreting the new ACC rule. Pretty bloody cunning I’d say
July 6, 2007 at 9:31 am |
Guys. Check out Brad Butterworth’s assessment of Grant Dalton’s leadership of ETNZ at:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10449959
No love lost there i’d be thinking. Cheers David G
July 6, 2007 at 9:44 am |
Yeah, I couldn’t believe the statement that said: “Just because you run the campaign doesn’t mean you should be on the boat,” he said. “You put your best team on the boat.”
The was a cheap shot across Dalt’s bow!
But then I thought about it…
HELLO? Is Berty Relly on board? Did he have to work like Dalts did to earn his spot? I think not.
July 6, 2007 at 11:06 am |
Hi mates! Here I am again! I miss you and the blog…
Rumor has it that RC will sign for LR…
What do you think? Could it be possible or is it mere speculation?
In any case it is almost certain tha Francesco De Angelis will leave our team.
There is another rumor about he (FDA) and Paul Cayard signing for Desafio…
What do you think about the new protocol?
I think it’s not so bad, but the “defender trials” will give Alinghi an immense advantage, considering that the challengers will probably have only one new boat each.
Ciao
Giulio
July 6, 2007 at 12:47 pm |
G’day, Giulio. So there’s life after the AC? Encouraging isn’t it. Cayard with Desafio could well be a winning combination.
If the Alinghi Kiwi ‘tight five’ stay put (as the rumours say they will) and don’t follow Coutts, he will not be the force he once was, in my opinion. So it doesn’t matter where he goes – BMW Oracle Racing or Luna Rossa.
I rate Paul and we know the Desafio design team had their heads pretty much in the right space.
I agree about the advantage to Alinghi in a defender trial. Remember when Dennis Connor took over Mighty Mary (not that it did him any good against the Kiwis anyway) but as the Defender, you have the option to choose the fastest boat available.
July 6, 2007 at 12:58 pm |
Guys. Good to 50% of the profits from the 33rd AC to be shared between the Challengers – 30 million Euros, apparently. Maybe Ernie isn’t so money hungry after all? Cheers.
July 6, 2007 at 12:59 pm |
Sorry. 32nd AC that should be
July 6, 2007 at 2:57 pm |
Hey guys, I’m still here
It would be a real shame to see Francesco DeAngelis leave LR, he seems such a lovely affable sort of bloke.
A sort of kiwi with a different accent if you will
I think that allowing the defender to take part in the challenger trials is abuse of power and another example of Ernie’s disgraceful behaviour.
I do however like the idea of having a new boat design. That should really spice things up!!!
Hey Giulio, do you really think that the challengers would only have one new boat each?
The boats aren’t THAT much bigger and presumably much of the cost of these things is the design etc…
July 6, 2007 at 3:01 pm |
Hey Jays. Apparently the new Protocol restricts the challengers to ONE new boat only. That obviously leaves no room for two boat testing, except that the Defender will have the opportunity to race a new ACC rule boat. Bloody Ernie up to his old tricks again, eh? Cheers.
July 6, 2007 at 3:07 pm |
Really? only one boat???? wot the hell?
So the defender is allowed only one boat too right?
What concerns me the most is that Ernie doesnt plan to release the new laws about boats until the end of the year at which time there will be only 18 months to go.
BUT, Alinghi will know where they are heading with the design rules and can start their design IMMEDIATELY.
Hey Dave, you know wot ETNZ should do?
They should enter TWO syndicates that just happen to build complementary designs. That way, the two syndicates can “cooperate” and that would be “almost” like 2 boat testing!!!!
Mwahahahaha! (evil laugh)
July 6, 2007 at 5:53 pm |
Hi Peter
Has anybody in Team NZ got the foresight to make Russell Coutts the offer to join as tactician and design co-ordinator?
Terry V
July 6, 2007 at 6:01 pm |
i agree – NZ should try to put in 2 entries. I doubt they’ll have the funds needed for a second strong entry so maybe they can join forces with the aussies as a ANZAC entry and share the spoils… we’re now on a rescue mission to bring back the sportmanship and fair play into the AC as Peter Blake vowed to do when we won it in 1995… as long as Bertarelli is in control he’ll rig things to his advantage… it’s just not cricket (or sailing in this case)
July 6, 2007 at 6:03 pm |
Regarding Russell Coutts, i heard on tvnz’s close up program that he has a get out clause in his contract with oracle should tnz want him. apparantly coutts is keen to return to NZ to raise his family.
July 6, 2007 at 6:16 pm |
Alinghi will have a really huge advantage in the next AC.
They will release the specifications of the new class when they will be well ahead in the development of their first boat. They will choose the things that will best suite their design team. And I think they have already decided where the next AC will be raced, so they also know the wind and sea condition they will find.
If this is not enough, the defender(s) will be allowed to take part in the challenger trials, (and they will have their own private trials, de facto allowing them a two boats campaign)
We chellengers should cooperate heavily, and when racing the Swiss before the Cup, we should make an agreement to let them win and go quietly fishing to the finsh.
I know it’s not the best for sport.. Call it sand bagging…
I liked Desafio and what they have done this year.
If they really put their hands on Paul and Francesco they will be much more competitive!
But if they were chosen as COR the reason is that Alinghi will not have any COR…
Everything will be decided by the good old Ernie alone…
July 6, 2007 at 6:31 pm |
Jays, I think Alinghi have already started their design for the new boats long ago…
They were absolutely sure to win this AC easily and I think they didn’t expect a challenger could be so competitive. It would have been fantastic to see Brad and Ernie’s faces in case of a TNZ’s win.
July 6, 2007 at 7:16 pm |
G’day Terry V. Interesting. But I don’t believe we need Russell Coutts.
He’s certainly a top helmsman (but no better possibly than Dean Barker who is absolutely on top of his game at the moment). And I’m confident our design team have their heads in the right space as well (as NZL92 is very close in boat speed to SUI100).
So really, without bringing Brad Butterworth and the other Alinghi Kiwis with him, what can Russell offer us that we need?
July 6, 2007 at 8:29 pm |
Hi DavidYou’ve been UNblocked
I think RC, even alone, could be more than valuable for LR if it’s true that Francesco De Angelis is leaving. But I also like the idea of seeing him on a second NZ challenge.
I hope he will not sign for Larry’s Oracle “Raping”
July 7, 2007 at 11:02 am |
Hi David G.
What’s Coutt’s got to offer?
Tactically under pressure TeamNZ made some bad decisions. I have the impression that they sailed as if they were racing their big brother – near enough to equal in every department, but lacking the confidence to go for the killer blow.
The difference, rightly or wrongly may have been the Butterworth factor. I think he is good, but not that good, and if anyone knows him well enough to get into his head it’s RC. The psychological advantage (along with his design skills, leadership, and sailing ability) of having Russell in the team would be huge.
Two teams is not going to happen – there isn’t the funding.
July 8, 2007 at 1:30 pm |
God Betarelli is such a PUSSY!!!
Oooh, I gave ETNZ an ALMOST level playing field after screwing over their syndicate and they almost beat me!!!
I know, I’ll change the rules so that they have absolutely no chance this time.
This guy reminds me of those rich little kids who are completely valueless but rely on mummy & daddy to make them into “big men”.
July 8, 2007 at 7:22 pm |
maybe we should just let him keep the AC, cos as long as he’s got his hands on it he’ll always rig things to his advantage. Let’s kick off a new regatta – The Sir Peter Blake Cup – a yachting world cup built on a rock solid foundation inspired by Blake’s values of sportmanship and fair play… values that are obviously foreign to the likes of Bertarelli…
July 8, 2007 at 9:32 pm |
well, we know for sure he wouldn’t compete cos he is too much of a panty-waist to win anything in a fair competition.
July 10, 2007 at 7:27 pm |
Great idea! A Sir Peter Blake Cup would be an awesome idea, especially if we capitalised on using the ACC 5 boats. I mean, there’s enough of them out there now, right?