Eerie sense of pressure propels Black Boat

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Every day Team New Zealand take their Black Boats out to sea, there is at least one voice in the crowd who calls out: "Don't be like the All Blacks."

The pressure on the crew to successfully defend the America's Cup from the powerful Prada challenge is ominous.

The sailors are only too aware that this sports-insane country has turned to them to succeed where the All Blacks and the Silver Ferns failed.

Veteran sailor Warwick Fleury, who has been part of every New Zealand cup campaign, said they were reminded of it everywhere.

"We hear it every time we go out in the boats.

"We just don't talk about it because the pressure has always been there, whether the All Blacks had won or lost. The crowd support adds more to it."

And it will only get louder. Tens of thousands of people were jammed around the waterfront last weekend to watch two foreign crews leave and enter the Viaduct Harbour.

"The people's expectation is that we are going to win again. But we still don't know where we stand," said Fleury.

The sailors escape the burden of public expectation every night when they go home - a benefit of being the local team. "Everyone is more comfortable going home to their own houses every night."

Fleury and his American wife, Lynne, have had two children - John and Analise - since the last cup.

The mainsail trimmer made headlines in 1995 sailing with a burst appendix. He was rushed to hospital after the boat crossed the finish-line in the semifinal race against OneAustralia.

"After the operation they said it was worse than it first seemed and I would have to stop sailing for six weeks," Fleury said.

"But I was back sailing two weeks later - it just shows you what mind over matter can do."

Fleury wishes this America's Cup had been raced a year ago.

"Five years is tough going - everyone knows it's too long ...

"We had to do it that way and it's been worth the wait."

Fleury will turn 39 on February 26 - scheduled as the fifth racing day in the first-to-five match. He hopes he will be drinking from a large, old silver mug to celebrate.