Michael Schumacher (left) was in charge of NZL92 before handing over to skipper Dean Barker before the racing began. Photo / Chris Cameron
Formula One legend Michael Schumacher got a taste of a different type of top-level racing yesterday and at a much more leisurely pace than he's used to.
Schumacher was Team New Zealand's "18th man" for the first of their two latest wins against +39 and Areva Challenge in
the America's Cup challengers' yachting series in Spain.
The German, who claimed a record seven drivers' championships before his retirement last year, would have regularly seen his speedometer record more than 300km/h during his F1 days.
Off Valencia, NZL92 averaged around 10 knots, or 18 to 19km/h, as it comfortably beat Italian syndicate +39 Challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup.
"He certainly didn't get thrown off the back with the acceleration," Emirates Team NZ runner Tony Rae quipped.
Rae said the crew got the chance to chat with Schumacher, who took an interest in what was going on.
"There are certainly a lot of parallels with his sport," he said. "We're all looking for tiny gains in every area, aerodynamically in particular."
Strategist Ray Davies described Schumacher as "a real funny guy" who helped to loosen up the crew on the way to the course.
It was a tradition on board for someone to tell a joke on the way out and Davies said it was navigator Kevin Hall's turn, but his effort fell flat.
"So then Michael stepped in and told a joke and had the whole team rolling around in laughter," he said. "It was great to have such a good personality on board."
Schumacher's presence involved no sailing duties.
It was the first time he had been on a yacht like NZL92 and he described it as "interesting experience".
"If you see the effort that happens behind the scenes, it's quite tremendous, the same as in Formula One."
- NZPA
