Tough watching but 'we can win' America's Cup

OH NO! Carterton family Rachel and Ian Jones with daughter Kaitlin-Grace, 14, watch in horror at Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery as Team New Zealand let another win slip through their sails. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The words "unbelievable" along with heavy sighs came from the table the Jones family sat at as they watched race 18 slip away from Team New Zealand.

Rachel, husband Ian and daughter Kaitlin-Grace, 14, Jones were glued to the television at Masterton's Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery yesterday hoping their team could bring home the Auld Mug.

Mrs Jones, from Carterton, said they wouldn't have missed it for anything.

She wasn't looking too happy when the Times-Age caught up with them though.

"It's just unbelievable ... [Oracle] has pushed them out to the boundary."

But she is sure of one thing though - "they can win this".

"We know they can win this because we have the best boat builders in the world in New Zealand."

Daughter Kaitlin-Grace, said she was popular when she turned up late for school at WaiCol - as she had done since the races began.

"Everyone is asking me what happened. They want to know if we won or lost," she said.

One lady from PaperPlus, who didn't wish to be named, popped across to watch the race as well.

"It's hard. We need to give them a push."

Jimmy Spithill's words about "imagine them losing when they are eight up" had spurred her on to support the Kiwi team, she said.

She also knows they could bring the cup home to New Zealand - like we all thought a week ago.

"They have what it takes. Never say never."

Meanwhile, the final race should be played out this morning to determine a winner - wind permitting.