Team back into cup buildup

By Suzanne McFadden

The final phase in Team New Zealand's buildup to defend the America's Cup begins next week.

All of the crew were back at the big black shed in the cup village yesterday after two months' campaigning in Europe.

Skipper Russell Coutts flew in from Japan yesterday morning after a speaking engagement where he told the audience that Team New Zealand had trained a whale to sink OneAustralia in 1995.

On Monday, the crew should be out on the Hauraki Gulf again, carrying out "science projects" on Black Magic I, while they wait for the first of their two new boats to come out of the boatyard.

Black Magic II, or NZL38, has retired to Team New Zealand's construction shed, further down the street. Coutts says the yacht may not see daylight again this summer.

"When we have two new boats and NZL32, we've got plenty to play with."

The first of the year 2000 yachts, NZL57, should be in the water early in September.

The European venture gave the sailors a chance to stretch their sea legs before getting serious in the leadup to the big match in February.

Team New Zealand were a close second in the month-long Tour de France a la Voile; Coutts and back-up helmsman Dean Barker were fifth and sixth in the Swedish Match grand prix; and trimmer Grant Loretz sailed on the winning Dutch team in the Admiral's Cup.

"Just the break away from here was a good thing. Hopefully we've all avoided the flu," said Coutts, who suffered another bout of glandular fever in Sweden.

The final countdown has begun. Other than Barker's crew, who will sail in the world matchracing championships in Denmark, the sailors are now staying put in Auckland.

Coutts believes this will be the most competitive cup ever.

"This will be much better than Fremantle was in '87.

"I think up to eight of the challengers will be competitive, and six - but I don't know which six - will be really, really tough. We will be watching it all very carefully."