Alinghi line up against Oracle BMW Racing and Prada race OneWorld in the much-awaited semifinals of the Louis Vuitton challenger series from Monday.
While both clashes are expected to go down to the wire, we asked helmsmen Magnus Holmberg (Victory Challenge), Philippe Presti (Le Defi Areva) and GBR Challenge (Andy Green)
their opinions on the top four skippers - Alinghi's Russell Coutts, Oracle's Chris Dickson, Prada's Francesco de Angelis and OneWorld's Peter Gilmour.
* * *
The last two America's Cups have not been plain sailing for Gilmour.
His Nippon team copped flak from the other challengers last time for training against the defenders, Team New Zealand, and now his OneWorld team have been caught up in the biggest row of this regatta, allegedly using other teams' design information.
But that hasn't stopped Gilmour from performing on the water.
Nippon reached the semifinals of the challenger series last time and OneWorld are one of the top contenders to make it to the challenger series final this time.
Australian Gilmour is tactician, positioned next to 23-year-old helmsman James Spithill.
"Gilly is calm, he talks a lot and is willing to take risks," Green said.
"I think Peter recognised his best skills and let the team gel around James.
"He keeps a handle on the whole operation and because of that, OneWorld have the slickest crew work out there. They are a very smart bunch of sailors." Presti said Gilmour's style was similar to Oracle's Peter Holmberg.
"It is difficult to judge what he is going to do. Peter Gilmour is very aggressive and is a gambler. Together, James and Peter do a wonderful job - Peter is very stable at the back of the boat."
Magnus Holmberg added: "OneWorld use tight matchracing tactics, whereas Prada are at the other end of the spectrum." OneWorld were the first syndicate to have both their new-generation boats in Auckland, and Holmberg said the move had paid off.
"They have had a lot of training and look strong all around."
Although it will be close, Holmberg sees OneWorld edging out Prada.
"OneWorld are strong in the pre-start. I believe they have got a lot of strength in their team and have a slight edge over Prada in upper wind speed."
JUST THE FACTS
Name: Peter Gilmour.
Position: Sailing director/skipper/tactician.
Date of birth: January 25, 1960.
Lives: Perth.
Status: Married with three children.
Sailing achievements:
2000 Australian sports medal for performance in sport.
1995 and 2000 Nippon Challenge challenger for America's Cup.
1992 Spirit of Australia challenge.
1987 Kookaburra III America's Cup Defence.
Three-time world matchracing champion.
Etchells world champion.
12m world champion.
OneWorld team profile
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
Alinghi line up against Oracle BMW Racing and Prada race OneWorld in the much-awaited semifinals of the Louis Vuitton challenger series from Monday.
While both clashes are expected to go down to the wire, we asked helmsmen Magnus Holmberg (Victory Challenge), Philippe Presti (Le Defi Areva) and GBR Challenge (Andy Green)
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