By Suzanne McFadden
Two of New Zealand's great America's Cup boats are being revived by an America True sailor.
True trimmer, American John Sweeney, has bought sisters NZL20 and NZL14 - New Zealand's boats in the 1992 Cup - from Sir Michael Fay.
Sweeney intends to turn the boats into floating billboards. NZL14, leased by the failed Hong Kong syndicate for this Cup, is ready to be dressed up for a willing advertiser on the Hauraki Gulf for next month's Cup match.
But NZL20, the red boat which lost the challenger final to Paul Cayard's Italian camp, is not in good shape. After sitting in a South Auckland trucking yard, it is no longer watertight.
True coach David Barnes, who drove the boat in 1992, will check to see if it can sail again.
"It's sad. I tried to give it to the Maritime Museum, but they don't have space," said Sweeney.
If it can be rebuilt, NZL20 will join its sister in San Francisco Bay after the Cup.
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