Cup dad proud but nervous

He's worn out the carpet, drunk too much coffee and his nerves are a mess but Paul Malcolm has loved the America's Cup action.

The former Rotorua man has an added interest in this year's event because his son, Ben, is part of Emirates Team New Zealand. He hopes today might be the day the Kiwis wrap it up.

Team New Zealand are just one win away from winning the Cup but it's been after a weekend of frustration which saw them come so close on Saturday before failing to meet the time requirement to get around the course. The chance to get their hands on the Cup was again delayed yesterday because of weather conditions.

Mr Malcolm said he'd been keenly watching the racing from his Maketu home. But he admits to having been "extremely nervous". "We're extremely proud and obviously a little bit humbled by it."

Mr Malcolm said he'd always had a keen interest in yachts and power boats, which his son had inherited.

Mr Malcolm said he and his son had spent plenty of time on the Rotorua lakes when Ben was growing up although more hours were spent on power boats.

Mr Malcolm said his son was discovered by Team New Zealand while working at Salthouse Boat Builders. They saw his work ethic.

"He has the ability to work day after day after day with very few hours' sleep. That's the ethic they obviously saw."

"It's nothing for Ben to do 20-hour days ... "

Mr Malcolm said a highlight had been when Ben had taken him to show him the boat in Auckland.

"It was a bit humbling what Grant Dalton had to say about him."

Rotorua artist Warren Houston, who was commissioned to airbrush the New Zealand flag and chrome-look detail on both hulls of Team New Zealand's catamaran, said it was a nerve-wracking experience.

"We started with such a burst it gave all of us so much confidence. But with the huge backing Oracle has got, I did think they would catch us up.

"It got more and more nerve wracking over the week ..."

Mr Houston said he was incredibly proud to see his artwork on the boat and felt like he had been part of the team since the beginning.

"Even though I haven't been over there I feel, like a lot of people, a part of the team, it's an awesome result," he said.