The 35th America's Cup has reached its climax - the final duel for the most important jug in sailing is underway, so far with a clear advantage in favour of Emirates Team New Zealand. While the Cup defenders have yet to find a real remedy against the fast-flying Kiwis, the cartoonists have already got to work. A little exchange of blows between the New Zealanders and the Americans on Facebook and Instagram showed the respective ideal image of the clash in a cheerful way: There's a bald eagle preying on the Kiwis and their cyclists. Depending on perspective and hope, the outcome of this duel is very different.
New Zealand's helmsman Peter Burling was also in a good mood after winning the first two races on Saturday, when he walked behind Jimmy Spithill's back during an interview and briefly held his fingers up to the camera in the "V" sign for Victory. It was a cheeky move from the 26-year-old, who is otherwise rather reserved verbally, but who now occasionally gives his nickname "Pistol Pete" an entertaining emphasis on land too.
At the same time, thousands of fans flocked to the Race Village in Bermuda this weekend. Hundreds of New Zealanders travelled the furthest. Among them was one who celebrated his 110th sports trip with the Kiwis in the middle of the Atlantic. Sonny Shaw is an accountant from Auckland who is crazy about sport and loves travelling. Wherever Kiwis compete internationally in major sporting events, he is there. Shaw has particularly enjoyed accompanying the sailors over the past decade. "It's such a beautiful sport and the people are particularly interesting. It looks great for our Kiwis here off Bermuda." Sonny Shaw is 67 years old and made his first sports trip in 1989 with the New Zealand rugby team.
In the camp of the British team, who have already been eliminated, there is still a good mood, as the English are already planning for the next edition of the Cup and were the first team to receive the green light from their title partner Land Rover and other sponsors for this 35th edition of the Cup. So it's no wonder that the Ainslies - presenter Georgie and her husband Sir Ben - entertain their audience with great infotainment on the daily "Morning Show".
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
