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VALENCIA - Today's stunning comeback victory by Team New Zealand has thrown the 32nd America's Cup wide open, with both teams agreeing that the Cup may not be settled by boatspeed but by who best manages Valencia's fickle wind shifts.
Both Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth and TNZ strategist Ray Davies agree the two boats were 'pretty equal' after a race where Alinghi seemed to be cruising to victory before Team New Zealand's crushing move.
After race one, won easily by Alinghi, it looked as though the Swiss boat was faster than the Kiwi boat, especially downwind.
However, Butterworth said: "A couple of things went for us yesterday and a couple of things went against us today. It is reasonably even. Yesterday, we caught some big waves and we were able to stretch things out on the last run."
But, other than that, it has been pretty even. These are obviously the two best boats in the contest and that is going to make for a great event."
The Kiwi boat caught a significant windshift after it lived on the leeward and pulled away from Alinghi to establish a firm lead, which it lengthened on the
downwind beat to win by 28s.
Butterworth said: "The turning point of the race was that we got a little worried about protecting the right-hand side. Historically, the wind has been stronger on that side later in the day but they came back on a roll, caught a shift and pressure. We just didn't quite put the boat in the right place they did a great job&got momentum and that was the end."
Davies said: "We always knew we had a competitive boat. But it was difficult out there again. It's pretty hard when you see the right hand side paying off so you defend the right. Then, the next thing, it is the left hand side which is paying off."
Davies said Dean Barker's move to leeward as Alinghi tacked away, defending the right hand side, was "a signature move for him; tacking to leeward like that
and it has worked pretty well for him."
