Unlikely fan gutted by loss

Kris O'Driscoll and daughter Sara, 7, are glued to the race. Photo / Ben Fraser

She may have an American accent, but don't be fooled into thinking Kris O'Driscoll was anything other than "gutted" after yesterday's result.

The Rotorua woman has had people ask her all week whether it's a case of being happy no matter who wins, but she was firmly in Emirates Team New Zealand's camp.

Mrs O'Driscoll, along with about 30 others, packed into Waiariki Institute of Technology's cafe yesterday to watch the deciding race.

And while many walked out before the end as Oracle pulled away to a commanding lead, Mrs O'Driscoll stayed until the end.

She and daughter Sara, 7, have been watching the race with the crowd for the past two weeks. Mrs O'Driscoll said right up until the final race she still had hope that New Zealand could pull off a win, but that wasn't to be the case.

This regatta has been the longest in the Cup's history and Mrs O'Driscoll admitted that after Saturday's race, where a New Zealand victory was snatched away by a time limit, she was waiting for the racing to be over.

Mrs O'Driscoll said while she watched the Louis Vuitton races at home she'd enjoyed watching the America's Cup races with her workmates in a group environment. While she doesn't get out sailing herself, Mrs O'Driscoll said she loved watching the races.