Thursday, March 2, 2000
This was the race that revealed the future of New Zealand yachting - Dean Barker.
Coutts gave the Black Magic wheel to the 26-year-old, symbolically handing the America's Cup flame to the next generation.
Barker did not disappoint, doing to de Angelis in the pre-start what he had to Coutts in the practice matches.
It was a sensational start. Prada wanted the right side but Barker boxed the Italians in and took the favoured committee boat end, continuing New Zealand's dominance in the critical minutes before the gun.
The waters of the Waitemata had earlier received the ashes of former America's Cup member Derek Tremain who died suddenly last year. He would have smiled at the brutal efficiency with which Team NZ ground out a 24 second advantage at the first mark.
Prada tactician Torben Grael told his crew to attack on the first downward beat. But it was not enough, clawing back only two seconds and leaving Luna Rossa still 100m-plus adrift.
For the first time the wind gusted over 20 knots and Team New Zealand were on top. Tactician Brad Butterworth constantly counselled his young skipper on the intricacies of matchracing, and the lead at the third mark was 48 seconds.
The dream was over for the Italians. They were lagging by more than a minute after the second downwind beat, and lost an extra 12 seconds after the fifth leg.
The last word belongs to excitable commentator Peter Montgomery: "It's black to the future; it's history on the Hauraki Gulf. The America's Cup is still New Zealand's cup."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Race 5, 2000: Sensational start to the future
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