Confusion has heavy cost

By JULIE ASH

Confusion between Team New Zealand's afterguard and weather team cost them yesterday's crucial third America's Cup race against Alinghi.

But skipper Dean Barker was adamant last night that crew changes were not the answer to rectify a situation which has the defenders 3-0 down in the first-to-five series, and time fast running out against the formidable Swiss challengers.

"We think we are fast enough and we are sailing well enough around the course," Barker said. "We just have to get ourselves on the right side and give ourselves a chance."

Team New Zealand were beaten by 23s in moderate conditions and now have to win five of the next six races to retain the cup.

The loss for Team New Zealand came in the first few minutes when they failed to spot a right-hand breeze. Both teams wanted the left but at the last minute Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth decided he was happy with the right.

After a split-tack start, it was the right that paid off as Alinghi landed the first shift and powered up the first beat and out to a 200m lead. From there Team New Zealand threw everything they could at the Swiss boat, but to no avail. Although they closed in several times they were never able to get close enough to pass.

"We had planned to go to the left and then the weather team did a fantastic call seven minutes before the race that a right-hand shift was coming down," said Alinghi wind strategist Murray Jones.

"That changed our strategy and I think won us the race."

Teams are able to receive information from their weather teams right up until the five-minute gun although most teams choose to rid the boat of equipment such as cellphones six minutes before the start.

Barker said his team also tossed up between the left and the right but crucially decided to stick with the left.

"Our weather team were favouring the right towards the end but it was something that we weren't as clear on as we needed to be.

"There was a bit of confusion and we thought it was going to be pretty even.

"As it turned out there was a big shift on the right which made it tough for us from then on."

The mistake proved costly for Team New Zealand and, with the boats evenly matched, such errors are going to hand Alinghi the win every time.

Questions have been asked about the worth of the hull appendage that many thought was Team New Zealand's golden bullet.

"Coming into the series we always thought the boats were going to be even in terms of performance which is hard to understand when the boats look so different," said Barker.

"The differences are very small, if there are any. It is more about putting the boat in the best position in the ocean."

But Barker remains confident Team New Zealand can peg their way back.

"In sailing, when you have two teams that are very similar in performance it doesn't take much for the momentum to change.

"We sailed a pretty good race, I felt, to keep as close as we did or catch up.

"I think against these guys it is very hard - you don't get many opportunities to catch up or pass. We are disappointed that we didn't get closer in the last run."

With today a lay day, Team New Zealand will spend the time trying to figure out just how to outsmart their more experienced opponents.

"I don't think it is as bad as people think. We certainly haven't given up," said Barker, who should be commended for turning up to face the media every day.

" It is frustrating not having a point on the board. We have made two mistakes, which is two mistakes too many, and which have cost us points. We aren't sailing badly so we aren't looking to change too much."

Next door, Alinghi can sense the cup within touching distance.

"I am very happy," said syndicate head and navigator Ernesto Bertarelli, who raised his hands to encourage cheers from his supporters as he walked up the ramp to his team's base after the race.

"Three-nil is better than 2-0 or 1-0 but there are still two more races to win. I think we have to go out there and make sure we don't make any mistakes."

Then, pointedly: "But we only have to win two more and they have to win five." But Barker is confident Team New Zealand can peg their way back.

"In sailing, when you have two teams that are very similar in performance it doesn't take much for the momentum to change," he said.

"We sailed a pretty good race, I felt, to keep as close as we did or catch up.

"I think against these guys it is very hard - you don't get many opportunities to catch up or pass. We are disappointed that we didn't get closer in the last run."

Barker was adamant crew changes were not the answer.

"We think we are fast enough and we are sailing well enough around the course. We just have to get ourselves on the right side and give ourselves a chance."

With the boats so equal, questions have been asked about the worth of the hull appendage that many New Zealanders thought was Team New Zealand's golden bullet.

"Coming into the series we always thought the boats were going to be even in terms of performance which is hard to understand when the boats look so different," said Barker.

"The differences are very small, if there are any. It is more about putting the boat in the best position in the ocean."

With today a lay day Team New Zealand will spend the time trying to figure out just how to outsmart their more experienced opponents.

"I don't think it is as bad as people think. We certainly haven't given up," said Barker, who should be commended for turning up to face the media every day.

"We still have to win five races. It is frustrating not having a point on the board. We have made two mistakes, which is two mistakes too many, which have cost us points. We aren't sailing badly so we aren't looking to change too much."

At the next-door base, Alinghi are just two wins away from getting their hands on the America's Cup.

"I am very happy," said syndicate head and navigator Ernesto Bertarelli, who raised his hands to encourage cheers from his supporters as he walked up the ramp to his team's base after the race.

"Three-nil is better than 2-0 or 1-0 but there are still 2 more races to win.

"There is the pressure of winning. I think we have to go out there and make sure we don't make any mistakes," said Bertarelli.

"But we only have to win two more and they have to win five."

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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