Spinnaker run: Team NZ ready to go

By JULIE ASH

Less than a week before race one of the America's Cup, the Team New Zealand crew are primed and ready to go.

The team's website declares the heavy work in the gym is over and climbing the Sky Tower, building fences and throwing gumboots are things of the past.

It is now up to each sailor to decide what training he will do up to and throughout the defence.

"I think everyone would agree that ... they are much fitter aerobically and strength-wise they're way beyond where the last campaign was," said trainer David Slyfield.

It hasn't been all monotonous training. Once a month, the sailors were given an unorthodox training experience - ranging from wood chopping and waka racing to lawn bowls and gumboot tossing.

"Anything we could turn into a competition we did," Slyfield said.

Choppers follow

Not only will Team New Zealand have hundreds of supporters escorting them out to the battle field each race day, two Helilink helicopters will also follow the black boats out.

The helicopters will meet the team just out of the Viaduct Harbour and follow them to the race course.

Each helicopter will be towing an 1800sq ft banner bearing the name of a sponsor.

The banners are picked up and dropped off from Browns Island.

Because the island is used to breed endangered birds, Helilink have worked closely with the Department of Conservation to make sure the pickup and drop-off are safely accomplished.

Aussie backs NZ

It is not often that an Aussie would be caught dead supporting a Kiwi team, but Australian businessman Charles Hanna is.

Hanna, who is the managing director of Hannapak, one of Australia's largest folding carton manufacturers, is in New Zealand to watch the cup.

And at the America's Cup ball on Saturday night at Government House, Hanna was more than happy to declare to the world he was supporting Team New Zealand.

"I think it is great that New Zealand has done so well in the cup," he said.

Skirts off

All will be revealed tomorrow when New Zealand and Alinghi drop their skirts and reveal their yachts for the cup race.

Alinghi are the first at 8am while Team New Zealand will follow shortly after at about 8.30am-8.45am.

Both unveilings are at the teams' bases and are open to the public.

New partner

America's Cup 2003 will today announce a new partner for the event. Little is known about the partner except it is an "emerging global brand in an exciting category".

It has been speculated that a celebrity is associated with the brand and will venture Downunder to watch the event.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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