NZ will lose America's Cup says Jobson

Top United States yachting commentator Gary Jobson says Team New Zealand will lose the America's Cup next year because they are struggling to overcome the death of Sir Peter Blake and loss of key crew to other syndicates.

Jobson, a former America's Cup tactician who commentates for television broadcaster ESPN, said Team NZ were also hampered by a lack of money.

He has predicted the cup will be won either by Russell Coutts' new syndicate Alinghi Challenge of Switzerland, Team Dennis Conner sailing for the New York Yacht Club or Oracle BMW Racing of San Francisco.

"New Zealand is going to lose for a number of reasons," he told the Providence Journal of Rhode Island.

"They don't have the resources.

"I think the loss of Peter Blake, a visionary and a leader and a sailor, affects the team.

"When you lose 12 of your 16 starters - you can't have that kind of attrition and still expect to perform." Sir Peter was killed by bandits in Brazil last year while leading an environmental expedition. His widow, Lady Pippa Blake, will officially name the first of Team New Zealand's two new boats on Monday. Jobson said the defection of former skipper Coutts was a serious blow for the defenders, because he had the ability to integrate the design and sailing teams.

He said Team NZ would suffer from losing half of its 2000 design team, who had joined other syndicates with bigger budgets. Team NZ's home water advantage had been diluted because challenging syndicates had spent the past two seasons training on the Hauraki Gulf.

Team NZ said they did not want to comment on Jobson's predictions.

He also dismissed the chances of Italian challengers Prada, saying they would "go up in a cloud of dust".

Most commentators rate Alinghi, Oracle and Prada as the syndicates likely to challenge Team NZ for the cup next February.

Team Dennis Conner's challenge has been hit by one of its new boats sinking last month. Stars and Stripes is being repaired in Auckland.

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