The determination of the New Zealanders in the 34th America's Cup goes hand in hand with the unity of millions of their compatriots on their home television channels: in the eleventh race on Wednesday, the Kiwis left no doubt that they will not let anything or anyone stop them on their way to their third America's Cup victory. Skipper and helmsman Dean Barker opened the duel at eye level with a confident start, making his otherwise furious opponent and seven years younger Jimmy Spithill look a little old.
"Team New Zealand looks strong," says American TV commentator and former America's Cup sailor Gary Jobson, paying tribute to Barker's team. The Kiwis utilise their starting advantage, block defenders Oracle Team USA, even slow down their opponents and then speed off towards buoy one, which they round with a three-second lead.
The race is highly exciting. Close to the shore and close to the imaginary course limit, the New Zealanders celebrate a perfect gybe not long after the start, which gives them a six-second lead at the second turning mark. It is still a close duel that can tip in one direction or the other at any time.
The team around Oracle's helmsman James Spithill acted in textbook fashion, establishing the desired split after rounding the second mark and even taking the lead by up to 60 metres for a short time. Downwind, the two Cup giants engage in an energy-sapping duel. The grinders moan and groan. Almost simultaneously, they zigzag towards the third buoy. But the New Zealanders quickly increase their lead to well over 100 metres and establish a dominant position. "Now they're in control," says Isaf vice-president Gary Jobson matter-of-factly. But the lead soon begins to melt away again. The US team was able to close the gap, sailing up to one knot faster. The American fans regain hope.
It remains a thrilling match. One that the commentators and spectators have never seen before at this level on catamarans. At the end of the cross and an imperfect but decent turn by the Kiwis, a completely botched turn by the Americans leads to a preliminary decision. The black and red US giant on two runners loses a huge amount of speed, with the display dropping below ten knots. The botched manoeuvre is bitterly punished shortly afterwards with a 17-second deficit at the rounding of mark three.
The Kiwis' "Aotearoa" races away from the wind. Their crew extends their lead to over 300 metres. "Great, guys," Dean Barker can be heard saying motivationally into the microphone, "stay cool now." And they do. The New Zealanders round the fourth tonne with a lead of 18 seconds. Their final short sprint to the finish in front of frenetically cheering fans remains unchallenged in the end.
After crossing the finish line, Barker spoke of a "monumental battle". And his 34-year-old rival Jimmy Spithill spoke of "huge mistakes": "We massively misjudged the time and distance at the start." Body language and tone sound like an admission of total defeat.
The defenders will not get another chance to make amends on Wednesday. The Kiwis will also have to postpone their final grab for the ornate silver jug. Mother Nature is bitching, causing another race cancellation with fresh winds after the total cancellation on Tuesday.
The 34th America's Cup duel will continue on Thursday with races twelve and 13 with the score 8:1 in favour of Emirates Team New Zealand and can be watched live on the internet as every evening from 10.15 pm German time via www.americascup.com. Larry Ellison's racing team, so rich in all respects, is on the brink of collapse: The Kiwis have eight match points in a row! If Jimmy Spithill and his Oracle Team USA want to turn the tide, they have to win eight times in a row from now on.
Shortly after the duel, the New Zealand Herald newspaper confidently announced: "We now have the desire and the burden to win another race. One more race. One cup. A nation is one step away from relaxing and enjoying the renewed possession of the America's Cup." The idea of a third Cup victory after 1995 and 2000 electrifies the small country. Down Under, they don't like to hear what Jimmy Spithill so combatively and stubbornly said after the eighth day of racing: "It's not over yet. Not the end at all." The New Zealand author's answer to this is a short final sentence: "It's still a race to the end."
Thursday will prove who is right. With eight match points in a row, the Kiwis have it in their own hands to bring their €60 million "state mission" to an end and bring the jug home. The Americans need eight wins in a row to keep the silverware after all. It's not just the odds that favour David in the battle against Goliath.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
