Anxious day looms for Team New Zealand's designer

By JULIE ASH

Next Saturday will be an anxious day for Clay Oliver and Team New Zealand's designers.

That is when Team New Zealand line up against Russell Coutts' Swiss syndicate Alinghi in race one of the America's Cup.

For a designer the first few minutes of the opening race can determine failure or success.

"We feel like we have done all our homework and we are ready to sit the exam," Oliver said.

"We are not sure what the questions will be, but we are ready to go into the classroom."

While most cup designers work on numerous yachts before they embark on the America's Cup, Oliver was different.

He trained as an architect at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis where his focus was mostly on warships.

After leaving the navy, he joined an architecture company based in Annapolis, concentrating on defence and military applications.

He then worked for the US defence contracting company, SAIC.

It was through that company he became involved with the America's Cup.

"SAIC said they had this small project with the America's Cup that I could work on.

"They said it might be four weeks, or four months, but it turned into three years, mostly assigned to Dennis Conner's campaign in Australia."

Conner regained the trophy in 1987 and when New Zealand's Sir Michael Fay challenged in 1988, Clay worked on Conner's catamaran.

He then teamed up with designer Bruce Farr and worked on the 1992 New Zealand Challenge and Chris Dickson's 1995 Tag Heuer.

Oliver joined Team New Zealand for the 2000 cup and opted to stay with the syndicate for their second defence.

And when Team NZ's black boats were unveiled, hull appendages and all, before the challenger series final, Oliver and his design team became the talk of the town.

"If I had to choose between the Alinghi boat and our boat, I would choose ours," he said. "We are confident we are ready to go."

Clay Oliver - principal designer/afterguard

Age: 50

Place of birth: Rhode Island

Career highlights:

2000: Team New Zealand

1994-95: Tag Heuer

1990-92: New Zealand Challenge

1987-88: Stars and Stripes catamaran

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

Racing schedule, results and standings