Cup challenge a real family affair

Chris McAsey and his daughter Brooke on stage during the celebrations after Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Cup over Luna Rossa Challenge. Photo / Chris Cameron

A Northlander whose son-in-law is part of Team New Zealand is confident the Kiwis will put the hammer down in the remaining races.

Sandra Easterbrook, whose son-in-law Chris McAsey is a grinder on the team, said only a navigational error prevented Team New Zealand from having a clean sweep in yesterday's races.

Oracle Team USA bounced back from a demoralising loss in the opening race to claim their first win of the America's Cup, edging Team NZ by just eight seconds in race four.

Ms Easterbrook returned home after watching the Louis Vuitton Cup challenge series in San Francisco last month.

"Team New Zealand did catch up quite a lot (in the first race yesterday), coming from behind initially which is evidently hard to do," she said.

Chris McAsey is accompanied by his wife Suzy and their daughters Brooke and Billie at the Cup venue.

Racing resumes tomorrow with two further races scheduled.