Team New Zealand supporters Barry and Libby Hill flying the flag and red socks at their Otumoetai home. Photo/George Novak
Team New Zealand supporters Barry and Libby Hill flying the flag and red socks at their Otumoetai home. Photo/George Novak
Breakfast never tasted so good in the Tauranga home of Barry and Libby Hill after their nagging doubts were extinguished that Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill might stage another come-from-behind fightback.
A silver fern flag and a pair of red socks kept from New Zealand's last and ultimately gut-wrenchingchallenge in 2013 had been fluttering proudly above their Otumoetai home.
"We kept the red socks in the hope that we would be able to use them again."
Like a million other Kiwis, they got up early to watch what they fervently wished would be the series decider, but with Mr Hill feeling ''very nervous'' because the circumstances were so similar to four years ago.
"I had nagging doubts," Mr Hill, 75, told the Bay of Plenty Times.
Happily, another clinical performance by Team New Zealand with Tauranga's Peter Burling at the helm wrapped up the series on the first race yesterday
"In the event, there was no cause to worry. We are going to have a few people around tonight for drinks."
Mr Hill said it made a big difference to their enjoyment of the racing to have a Tauranga boy at the helm and they looked forward to giving the city's hometown hero a great welcome back.
