Louis Vuitton Cup final race oneKEY POINTS:
While Luna Rossa are understandably coy about what modifications they might have made to their America's Cup boat, grinder Andrew Taylor has revealed that one thing has remained the same on board.
"We've still got pasta every day in the lunch box," the New Zealander said.
"We've had that from the day we arrived, so that's something that hasn't changed."
Was that good or bad, given that grinders, the workhorses of the crew, needed to stock up on plenty of energy?
"If you like pasta it's a good thing," he said.
"If you want to eat it three times a day."
Taylor might have gone off the food on ITA94, but what has whetted the appetite is the nailbiting contest that Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand tossed up today.
Close racing had been predicted for the best-of-nine challengers' final and the two crews obliged in their opening meeting.
Team NZ ended up winning a contest sailed in a 10 to 14-knot seabreeze, but the margin of victory was just eight seconds.
A windshift up the first beat proved decisive in a contest that was tight all the way around the course.
It allowed the Team NZ to grab a small advantage which they protected against opponents who tried hard to find a passing lane.
Taylor said there was still a long way to go in the Louis Vuitton Cup final, the winners of which will challenge Swiss defenders Alinghi for the Auld Mug later this month.
He added that he and crewmates could take heart from the way they never gave up as they searched for an opening against NZL92.
"I guess the positives for Luna Rossa today are that we did a good job hanging in there on the wrong side and we kept it close," he said.
"The Team NZ boys only had to make one mistake and we were close enough to get past. We didn't win this race, but we will take something from it."
Taylor is one of two New Zealanders in the Luna Rossa crew, the other being bowman Alan Smith.
He is into his seventh America's Cup, having sailed for New Zealand in the first five, including the successful 2000 defence against his present employers.
His experiences with Team NZ meant he had plenty of respect for those involved in the syndicate's latest campaign.
"I knew today heading out that it was going to be a battle and it certainly was," he said.
"They had the favoured right-hand side and sailed well to stay in front and we just couldn't get around them."
Race two is scheduled for tomorrow.
- NZPA
