Team New Zealand Defend The Trophy

Team Emirates New Zealand retained the Americas Cup earlier today winning the first to 7 by 7 wins to 3. The margin looks very one sided but considering 5 races ago the Italians were up 3-2 and the pressure was on the Kiwi's.

This event has and will inspire so many as this is not sailing as we know it and far more. The new class of boat is the AC75 and the flying boat which looks as though it is here to stay. Speed is what draws the crowds and these boats have raised the awareness of the Americas Cup. For the sports of sailing this is anew era and what we see now will only improve.

What I find interesting is the teams are still learning every time they are out sailing so the development is not only with the boat designs, but with how the teams sail them. You would think after 3 years of sailing them they would know every trick in the book, but that is not so as match racing is where you learn what the boat and the crew are capable of.

Team New Zealand had the upper hand even though we couldn't see it from the early races. The team not being able to race for 3 months would have been rusty whilst Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was racing eliminating the other competitors.

What was clearly obvious was Team New Zealand had the faster boat by a good 5 knots which equates to 10km/h which is considerable and 10% quicker. The team only had to get their maneuvers with the tacking sorted out and the trophy was theirs. It took the team 5 races to find their mojo and win 5 races in a row after being 3-2 down.

With this class of boat and the added interest the talk is possibly to have this event more often than every 4 years so we will see what comes of this now. I think it would be a shame as the history behind the trophy with 36 challengers should not be ruined. My head says leave the trophy at every 4 years and race the same boats in another regatta every 2 years as that would aid development.

Many expect the Challenger of Record will turn to the UK Ineos team now and suspect the letter is already with Team New Zealand. I think it would be a shame to take the defence away from New Zealand waters in 4 years time and money should not be the deciding factor. Home waters and knowing the conditions is the advantage you have so one should never give that up. The support the New Zealand team have received during their title defence has been overwhelming and has to be taken into account.

The Italian team cannot be ashamed of what they achieved as it was a great challenge against the odds. Away from home for 4 months having been training for 4 years. Reading between the lines the Italians are going to be back and the 20 years Luna Rossa has been involved they will continue. The Italians money backer said this was the best Italian team at the Americas Cup so he will continue surely.

What was refreshing in the crowds was to see no one wearing masks as Auckland is on top of Covid. The country has been super strict and it has worked, maybe other countries should take note.