Rivals meet in calm before the storm

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

The moment the masts crossed, Team New Zealand and Prada were en garde in their first parry - a week before their duel for the America's Cup.

Four boats - two black, two silver - lined up with one another in an unexpected encounter on the Hauraki Gulf yesterday.

It was a brief flirtation, but totally out of character. Challenger and defender are not supposed to rub shoulders before the big event, starting next Saturday.

Under strict cup protocol, they must keep 200m away from each other, on land and at sea, to prevent spying.

But yesterday, one of the Black Boats wiggled to within 10m of Luna Rossa in a meeting that lasted almost five minutes.

For once, there was no angry fist-waving or ramming rubber boats.

Both crews waved and smiled as the two yachts - ITA48 and NZL57 - sailed side-by-side.

The contenders were returning to the city after training at opposite ends of the gulf when their paths crossed.

Team New Zealand's young backup skipper, Dean Barker, was at the wheel of NZL57, eyeing up fellow Kiwi Rod Davis, the Prada coach driving Luna Rossa.

"It was certainly exciting - the first time we were on the same space of water together," Barker said.

"But they can't take anything out of it and neither could we. We had our old sails on."

The Italians did not get too excited about mixing it up with the Kiwis - Prada navigator Matteo Plazzi said no secrets were shared.

"They stopped racing the same time as we were coming home and we crossed each other, then sailed alongside for a while," he said.

"It was two boats reaching on the harbour - there was nothing to learn."