Beyond the Cup - American Magic Helmsman Dean Barker and Live Sail Die's Chris Steele join AUT Sailing Professor Mark Orams and Matt Brown to discuss all of the news ahead of the Prada Cup Final, between INEOS Team UK and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli. Video / NZ Herald
The Secret Sailor is an internationally acclaimed yachtie with a strong history in the America's Cup.
It would make sense to sell to the highest bidder if this was solely a business decision, but as we have seen again over the past months, Kiwis get behind their team 100 per cent. Sell it to an Arab state or European country with deep pockets and you have to wonder if it still would be "Team New Zealand".
Who controls the team and the regatta if it's not the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron?
And you can bet that a number of people - including a few at the RNZYS - would be very upset if it was sold for 30 pieces of silver.
The America's Cup is, first and foremost, a regatta between yacht clubs and if Team New Zealand retain the Cup, the next one should be sailed in New Zealand waters.
Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton with Team New Zealand members shortly before training. Photo / Dean Purcell
They have to win it first, though - and the rumour mill has it that Te Rehutai has been hitting never-before-seen speeds in training recently.
That wouldn't surprise me. Team NZ have been working hard and sailing regularly out the back of Waiheke Island and, if the Cup match were to be held today, they would be the bookies' overwhelming favourite.
They've possibly made things even easier for themselves by this week agreeing to the reduction of the upper wind limit for the Prada Cup final and beyond - despite protests from Ineos Team UK.
The ruling - that would see the upper limit remain at 21kn, rather than be increased to 23kn as originally agreed - is very unfair on the British challenger.
Add to that the decision to reintroduce the 15-minute delay rule after it was allowed, then scrapped, as well as the yellow card for non-compliance that could cost them a race and it is clear that Ineos Team UK and American Magic have had very little say in decisions taken by Luna Rossa, as the challenger of record, and defender Team New Zealand.
I believe those two teams have a vested interest in the upper limit being decreased - Luna Rossa have shown to be stronger in the lighter breeze (while the Brits are a handful in the stronger wind), while Team NZ have the fastest boat by all accounts and would be mindful of potential damage that could occur when racing at the top end of the wind range.
Te Rehutai is believed to be going faster than ever in training. Photo / Dean Purcell
Yes, disagreements like these aren't unique to the 2021 America's Cup but things have been more one-sided than during previous regattas - including San Francisco in 2013 and Bermuda four years later.
Teams will always jostle for an outcome that suits them and the defender and challenger of record usually have an advantage - but this time round, it all feels a bit nasty.
