Editorial: Nervy wait for cup win

Keep those red socks on - it's not over yet.

I'm only ever a yachting fan when the America's Cup is on and right now my lack of knowledge of the sport is causing some frustration.

I'm in no position to theorise on why we've had a string of wins followed by a string of losses, why winning the start seems to equate to winning the race or which wrong move from Dean Barker or skilful tactic from Jimmy Spithill has won or lost them the advantage on any given day.

Regardless, a race to the finish line is a simple concept and all I want is to see our boat cross it first - something that this time last week seemed easily within reach.

On Saturday I got up to watch one of Team NZ's most impressive cup performances.

Everything was going swimmingly until out of nowhere Martin Tasker raised the issue of the time limit and the need for the race to be wrapped up by the "top of the hour".

Again my lack of sailing knowledge meant I had no idea of the length of the course or how long it would take Dean and the team to reach the finish line. I had to rely on Tasker, who didn't seem at all hopeful.

In fact I think he forgot that the whole of New Zealand could hear him when he sank into a rage-fuelled depression about the injustice of the America's Cup time limit rule.

Rules are rules and just as you can't score the winning try after the final whistle, you can't win an elite yacht race either.

The country re-grouped and later that night my friend told me she had the champagne chilled ready for a Sunday morning celebration. But the ice has long since melted.

As I write I'm nervously hopeful that by the time you read this the cup will be back in New Zealand's possession.

It's been like waiting for Christmas with some cruel person extending the number of sleeps. At least when we do win, and I'm sure we will, the team on board will have every reason to be satisfied.