The man with the hull truth

By HELEN TUNNAH

America's Cup yacht measurer Ken McAlpine leads a tiny and elite team who may be the only independent minds to know the secrets of Team New Zealand's radical new design.

McAlpine is one of the four official measurers, who determine whether boats meet the rules of the class and regatta.

He guards his team's integrity jealously, knowing the compliance process - which allows measurers to view in confidence the most detailed of syndicates' design secrets - depends on complete discretion.

McAlpine, an Australian naval architect, has worked as a measurer for 30 years, and at six America's Cups.

Team New Zealand worked closely with the measurers when developing their false hull appendage, known as the hula, to ensure their campaign yachts were built within the rules.

Before the hulls' unveiling this week, McAlpine's team inspected the hula and declared it legal. Valid measurement certificates were issued for NZL81 and NZL82.

How McAlpine's team checked the hula is confidential, but teams such as Alinghi, of Switzerland, are trying to work it out, in part by asking probing questions this week of the measurer and international jury.

Alinghi asked if electronic devices should be fitted to boats to make sure hulas never touch the hull - a rule requirement - and if colour stains could be used to check scuff marks.

McAlpine said earlier this year that only four people had seen all the America's Cup boats and their secrets would be guarded.

So he falls back on "I don't have a clue" when asked who will win.

As for, "What secrets do you know?" he responds with a smile - and silence.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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