America's Cup: Thanks to Blair Tuke, it just got interesting

Kerikeri sailor Blair Tuke has reinvigorated my interest in the racing.

By Craig Cooper, Editor

The America's Cup has left me cold in the past but I have Blair Tuke to thank for revitalising my interest in the contest.

I lost interest around the time that I realised the so-called country versus country contest was heavily influenced by money.

To the extent that if you had enough money, you could buy the best sailors off other countries, and put them on your yacht.

So when Russell Coutts won the America's Cup contest for New Zealand, and then got bought by Alinghi and won it for them, it left me cold.

Imagine if the Wallabies bought Dan Carter and stuck him at first five. Or Richie McCaw turned out for England.

I felt little or no indignation when Northlander Ben Nathan attacked the cup. Not because I agreed with his actions, I just didn't particularly care about the Auld Mug and the cup as a sporting contest any more.

I did lament our loss though, as it could have created economic opportunities for Northland if the cup had stayed in New Zealand.

And when we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and went from 8-1 up to lose 9-8 against Oracle in 2013, I felt the loss like many Kiwis.

And now Kerikeri sailor Blair Tuke has reinvigorated my interest in the racing.

I can't help but admire how he and Peter Burling have transitioned from 49ers to the AC45 catamarans, and brought their Olympic and World Champion form with them.

When they "foiled" throughout an entire race, I got excited, despite only being introduced to the concept of foiling during the commentary. Because the Kiwis were the first team to do it in a race.

And Tuke doesn't just have a "cyclor" role - he is a key tactician, the yin to Burling's yang.

Having a Northland face on the boat has lifted my level of engagement, and with the team 3-0 up (despite, due to some baffling rules, winning four races), the chance to exact revenge on Jimmy Spithill and co, and enjoy it immensely, is an enticing prospect.