Three days to go until the first of a maximum of nine races for the America's Cup between the defending champion Alinghi from Switzerland and the challenger and winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup Emirates Team New Zealand. Who has the better odds? Who is more popular with the betting shops?
A good four years ago, Team Alinghi inflicted a devastating, almost embarrassing 5-0 defeat on the New Zealanders in Auckland to lift the America's Cup from Down Under. After a long and exciting Louis Vuitton Cup, in which the Kiwis prevailed against ten other teams, the duel will be repeated on Saturday.
As the internet platform www.cupineurope.com reports, the Swiss are still clearly ahead, at least in the betting shops. Anyone betting one euro on Ernesto Bertarelli's team would win between 1.5 and 1.7 euros (as of 20 June 2007) if the Swiss were actually victorious.
The bookmakers, on the other hand, have slightly less faith in the New Zealanders, but this makes many a gambler's heart beat faster. If team manager Grant Dalton's team wins, up to €2.6 would be paid back for every euro wagered.
Opinions among the experts are similar to those in the betting shops. However, the latest discussions about the helmsman on the Swiss boat have raised initial doubts about their superiority in the acts so far. "There seems to have been some uncertainty in the team recently," says Paul Cayard, referring to the question of whether American Ed Baird or Peter Holmberg (Virgin Islands) will steer the ship. However, according to Cayard, what is causing the betting shops to waver could also be a feint. "Maybe Alinghi is just playing games," he says, adding that he personally believes that Ed Baird will steer the yacht.
However, all observers agree that the New Zealanders have become stronger from match to match in the Loius Vuitton Cup and that helmsman Dean Barker, who was devastated and totally insecure in 2003, is once again fully aware of his abilities on the bike.
The question of whether Alinghi will start with its tried and tested "SUI 91" or the new "SUI 100", which has not yet sailed in competition, is also occupying America's Cup observers.
Whatever the Swiss decide on the boat and helmsman, it will remain more than exciting until Saturday afternoon, when the first match is sailed off Valencia.
You, dear YACHT Online readers, can now place your own bet here. Who will win the 32nd America's Cup, Team Alinghi or Emirates Team New Zealand?
