In 1995, Sir Peter Blake - then the leading figure of the up-and-coming Emirates Team New Zealand and the "Black Magic" - was not on board in a duel in the challenger round of a race. The New Zealanders promptly lost this encounter in the 28th edition of the Cup. However, the winning streak and the first Cup triumph followed when Sir Peter was back on board. Because New Zealand's sailing figurehead always wore a pair of red lucky charm socks given to him by his wife Pippa, they became a symbol of the Kiwis' success. From then on, they always had to be there when the New Zealand sailing team was in Cup action. And so it is again at this 35th edition of the America's Cup. The red socks have long since become the symbol of choice, with hundreds of thousands of fans in the team's home country expressing their appreciation for Emirates Team New Zealand.
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Fans in New Zealand are turning up the heat ahead of the continuation of the clash between their Emirates Team New Zealand and defending champions Oracle Team USA. The match will resume tonight at 7pm German time with the score 3-0 in favour of the Kiwis. Both camps have used the five-day break to further optimise their boats, their manoeuvres and their sailing technique. It remains to be seen in the evening whether the Americans will be able to match the dominant level of the Kiwis.
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In Bermuda, meanwhile, rumours were doing the rounds that the defenders might be preparing a protest against the New Zealanders. So far, however, this is just a rumour. What has taken place, however, are various lengthy visits by the surveyors to both teams. Chief surveyor Ken McAlpine has confirmed "questions" from the teams. And said that it was his team's job to answer these questions in the best possible way.
The weather forecast for the two Saturday races remains as it has been for days: the wind conditions are expected to be around the same as last weekend with seven to ten knots, when Emirates Team New Zealand scored four points in a row, but first had to make up for the minus point from the challenger qualification with their first win. Experts are convinced that these will remain "Kiwi conditions", but the American Cup defenders have worked hard to compensate for their speed deficit in these lighter winds.
In the Americans' favour is the fact that skipper and helmsman Jimmy Spithill, alongside tactician Tom Slingsby, has already pulled off an incredible comeback: in 2013, they were 8-1 down against the Kiwis, but then pulled off a furious comeback to win 9-8. Oracle also beat the Kiwis twice in the preliminary round of this edition of the Cup. The design rules do not allow much, but some leeway to optimise the foils and rudder appendages. According to the Oracle team, they have done just that. Jimmy Spithill is determined to finally turn his well-known starting strength into starting victories. "We've definitely taken a step forward," announced tactician and Sailing Manager Tom Slingsby, "we're going to sail faster and smarter."
The Kiwis' good performance so far speaks in their favour. They have not always sailed flawlessly, but even the one or other lapse has not affected the New Zealanders because their fast "Aotearoa" has always made up for any shortfalls quickly and reliably. Helmsman Peter Burling and his 49er Gold foresailor Blair Tuke, in combination with foiling champion and skipper Glenn Ashby, have so far presented themselves as a winning trio. The Kiwis' supremacy has so far not been shaken by the previously often verbally provocative Jimmy Spithill. The fact that the Americans have optimised their boat does not automatically mean that they have come closer to the New Zealanders, as the Kiwis have probably also been able to improve their performance in the five-day break since their last encounter last Sunday. The question remains, which will be answered a little more tonight: Can the Americans really do anything about the Kiwis' concentrated pedal power, outstanding manoeuvres and stable flying ability?
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
