THE America's Cup - a sport for rich boys with floating billboards, or phenomenal machines powered by superlative professionals?
As Emirates Team New Zealand went up six-one in the Louis Vuitton on Sunday morning, thoroughly trouncing Luna Rossa, I confess it was the first time I had watched a race. The races are held at 8am our time, when most of us working joes are on our way to work. At the time of writing this, I don't know if Team NZ had nailed the last race, but it seems pretty certain. "Our" boat is undoubtedly faster than the Italians and has likely booked a date with Oracle Team USA for September 8.
The equipment and the tactics are undeniably exciting, as is the frightening speed these catamarans can go, with sails the size of 747 wings. TNZ has been clocked at 44 knots, a new record for the event. Even in the toned-down racing conditions, following the death of an Artemis racing crewmember in the semifinals, they still look amazing. And the outright wins, such as Sunday's one, brings on that smug satisfaction of Kiwis being unbeatable. Considering what the All Blacks are doing right now, our cup is definitely runneth over.
But the America's Cup, traditionally an expensive game for professionals and designers, has become the sport of billionaires, to the point where very few countries seem to be able to muster up the dosh, the enthusiasm and the technology to take it on. In previous cups we had plenty of countries having a go, including Britain and Australia. This year, we have just three challengers, New Zealand, Italy and Sweden.
Naturally I'm hoping Team New Zealand will win this. Not only for the basic notion of being the best, but also because the America's Cup holder gets to set the venue and the rules. The venue would certainly be somewhere off the coast of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, giving a hefty cash-boost to New Zealand, but a win might also bring this sport back down to earth, with single-hulled 12-metre vessels and their crews pitting themselves against the best the sailing world can offer.
