Yachting: Disaster boat's days numbered

TRAPANI - Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker admits to a love/hate relationship with NZL82, but says he does feel some sadness with the realisation that the boat may have sailed its last race.

The syndicate looks increasingly likely to bring on its first new boat, NZL84, in next year's America's Cup pre-regattas.

Which means the final day of the last pre-regatta of the year in Trapani, Sicily, which took place overnight, could be the end for NZL82.

"In some ways it is sad to see a boat that we put a lot of hard work into being retired," Barker said.

"The boat is okay at best. It is not as good as Alinghi and not as good as Oracle. It puts a lot of pressure on the sailing team to sail better than what some of the other teams need to, to have good results.

"It has been frustrating, but certainly now the focus is on the new boat."

To say NZL82 has had an interesting life would be an understatement. Breaking down twice in the last Cup, the black boat was then knocked off its cradle during a storm in Marseille last year which sent it back to the boatshed.

After a lot of cosmetic surgery it has become something of a workhorse and is now almost an entirely different boat from the one seen bobbing around the Hauraki Gulf, beaten and broken, in the 2003 defence.

However, it has always been clear that the new Emirates-sponsored syndicate was keen to see the back of NZL82.

Barker said the replacement, NZL84, was well under way in Auckland and the team was looking forward to putting it through its paces.

"We are hopeful we have made some good steps forward and are looking forward to resting NZL82 and moving on."

The boats are given a number when construction of the hull gets under way. The teams do not choose - the numbers ascend. South Africa, who built the first 2007-generation boat, have 83 so Team New Zealand get 84.

"We are happy that we are going to have one of the first new boats in the water," said Barker. "It gives us a lot of time with the new boat - maybe more than a lot of these other teams will get - and that will help us with the decisions with our second new boat."

The boat capable of winning the next America's Cup would have to be good in all conditions, and upwind and downwind, he said.

Team New Zealand made a promising start to the fleet-racing regatta over the weekend, picking up a second and a third on the opening day. But they struggled in the shifty conditions on day two, finishing a disappointing fifth in the first race and third in the second.

Defenders Alinghi and Chris Dickson's BMW Oracle Racing have dominated the regatta. Of the four races sailed, Alinghi have won three and finished second in the other. Oracle, who seem to have found more pace, have won one and finished second in the other three.

Team New Zealand tactician Terry Hutchinson said Alinghi's and Oracle's boat speed seemed to be coming to the forefront.

"Obviously we can sail better. But at some point your horse has got to have it in it to get the job done for you."

South Africa's Team Shosholoza, who have veteran American Dee Smith calling tactics, are fourth in the regatta behind Alinghi, Oracle and Team New Zealand.

It appears the South Africans, the only team sailing a 2007 generation boat, are coming to grips with their yacht. It has showed speed in certain conditions.

The five-race fleet-racing regatta ended overnight, concluding this year's America's Cup Championship.

The event in Trapani has been a huge success, hundreds of spectator boats flocking to the course daily. Since the opening pre-regatta in Marseille last year, a million people have visited America's Cup parks at each venue.