America's Cup defender Alinghi (L) races downwind ahead of Team New Zealand in race one of the 32nd America's Cup. Photo / Reuters
VALENCIA - Don't read too much into today; tomorrow's another day - that was the reaction of Emirates Team New Zealand to their first-up 35s defeat by holder Alinghi this morning.
The trouble is that the weather forecast (in this admittedly highly changeable part of the world) is
for the same sort of wind and sea conditions that obviously favoured Alinghi today. Team New Zealand would now love lighter winds and a flatter sea.
A muted but resolute skipper Dean Barker and strategist Adam Beashel fronted at the post-race press conference, acknowledging the defeat and the worth of
their opponents.
But both said Alinghi had done well in picking and taking advantage of the wind shifts during the race.
"I couldn't say that any of what we saw was a
surprise," said Barker.
"You certainly couldn't blame it on our boat. We are very happy with it. It was just the way the breeze blew today. They are a very strong opponent and they got in front and controlled the race well.
"We had to sail well to win the race and, while we didn't sail badly, we didn't do enough to win it."
Both Barker and Beashel said the oscillating breeze and 'lumpy' chop had made life difficult; wind shifts were bigger and Alinghi capitalised on those
advantages during the race.
"A little bit of pressure, couple with big waves can make a big difference," said Barker, echoed by Alinghi crewman Juan Vila who said: "When the pressure is
going up and down like it was today and the waves were big, you can catch a wave and surf it and that explains surging by one or two boat lengths."
Team NZ mastman Barry McKay said: "They have a good boat not something out of this world, but good. So it's game on really."
McKay said the wash from the huge 800-boat spectator fleet hadn't helped but wasn't a major factor with the chop coming more from the Mistral winds.
"But this team has depth enough now to take a loss," he said.
"We raced through the Louis Vuitton and had some losses and we have got the character now to bounce back and carry on."
Full coverage of the America's Cup from
nzherald.co.nz/americascup and
desktoptv.co.nz
View photos