KEY POINTS:
For once Terry Hutchinson's face is visible.
Usually the Team New Zealand tactician has sunscreen smeared on his face like war paint and sunglasses permanently attached so that when you talk to him you end up looking at your own reflection.
His game face may be missing, his
intensity is not.
Emirates Team New Zealand are about to take on Desafio Espanol in the next stage of their journey towards the America's Cup.
While some have predicted the Kiwis will win 5-0, Hutchinson is more cautious. With good reason.
The temperature in Valencia has rocketed over the past few days. On Friday, stepping outside was like entering the flow of a giant hairdryer cranked on hot. It was suffocating.
But a fast-approaching front means the teams are likely to face light, unsteady breezes during the first few days of semifinals.
For Hutchinson, this news is about as welcoming as a dentist telling him he needs a root canal.
"What we will see racing wise is still very tricky, [with] Mediterranean sea breezes that are difficult to read on the water and require some patience."
It was difficult to know whether to cover your opponent or search for a wind shift.
Winning the first cross would be vital against the Spanish.
"A lot of emphasis will go into getting that part right.
"One of the best things we did in the last round was we took a lot of pressure off ourselves about wanting this side or that side by really focusing on getting a good start with a slight momentum advantage off the line.
"Then taking that advantage and quickly minimising the separation between the two boats."
An example he said, was the Luna Rossa race where the Italians got the better side but their start wasn't that powerful. Team New Zealand started next to them with speed and as a result Luna Rossa had to tack away.
"All you are looking for is that quarter of a length advantage at the first intersection. After that point you can somewhat control the race.
"That approach has worked well for us. I suspect with the Spanish we'll do more of it as their boat is plenty fast."
Team New Zealand's NZL92 tends to like the breeze up around 9-11 knots where it can heel over and sail longer and faster. The Spanish ESP97 relishes the light conditions, meaning the opening days of racing could be right up its alley.
What also makes the Spanish an interesting opponent is their helmsman Karol Jablonski, who is a little unorthodox in his approach.
Asked if that made him a trickier opponent than Chris Dickson or James Spithill, who are more measured in their approach, Hutchinson didn't think so.
"We do quite well in those situations because I think Dean's [Barker] instincts are very good around the prestart. We have to treat the Spaniards with the utmost respect because otherwise they will bite us. We have to come out with good, controlled aggression and not be afraid to take it to them in the prestart and not be afraid of small mistakes in the prestart for the bigger picture and control of the race.
Hutchinson said his team wanted to sail the semifinal to "our" level.
"We have had a lot of discussion over the last few years about when the teams should peak from a performance perspective. Some debated it should be the semis, some debated it should be the final and the adrenalin would carry you through to the America's Cup match . So it is probably somewhere between these two."
Known for his intensity, Hutchinson said his personal goal for the semifinals was to keep a clear head.
"The guys have been on me to make sure I have my head out of the boat and that I trust my instincts because we have had good success when that has happened in the past.
"I was very apprehensive and losing that first race to Mascalzone was a clear indication I needed to chill a little and relax and enjoy more of the regatta.
"As a team we do much better when we are in that mindset."
