Thursday, 18 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Sport

America's Cup: Team New Zealand 'way ahead' of rivals, claims Jimmy Spithill

11 Feb, 2020 01:28 AM4 minutes to read
Jimmy Spithill, 2 time America's Cup Winner. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Jimmy Spithill, 2 time America's Cup Winner. Photo / Greg Bowker.

NZ Herald

Outspoken America's Cup winner Jimmy Spithill claims Team New Zealand are "well ahead" of their international rivals heading into Auckland 2021.

Spithill, who won the Cup twice with Oracle Team USA in 2010 and 2013 before losing to the Kiwis at Bermuda 2017, has rejoined Italian Challenger of record Luna Rossa and is excited by the radical foiling monohulls now being sailed.

READ MORE:
• 2021 America's Cup: Stars and Stripes Team USA fail to pay entry fee to contest opening World Series event
• America's Cup: Ben Ainslie reveals trip to spy on Team New Zealand's Te Aihe
• Premium - 2021 America's Cup: Richard Gladwell - Leading designer warns it's when, not if, teams will capsize AC75 foiling monohulls
• America's Cup: Challengers setting up camp late next year an advantage for Team New Zealand, former tactician Brad Butterworth says

On a recent podcast the Australian said he had no doubts Team New Zealand were the team to beat as the four heavyweight syndicates get to grips with the revolutionary 75-foot boats.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Right now I'd say the Kiwis are well ahead of the other teams," Spithill told Shirley Robertson on her sailing podcast.

"You can't deny that fact. They are on the race course, doing laps. Doing race laps and doing really good."

Spithill said Team New Zealand's ability to train and do their research and development in the waters that will be used for the America's Cup was a big bonus.

Australian America's Cup skipper Jimmy Spithill in the NZME newsroom. 21 September 2017 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Jason Oxenham.
Australian America's Cup skipper Jimmy Spithill in the NZME newsroom. 21 September 2017 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Jason Oxenham.

He also felt Team New Zealand's decision to build a test boat to operate while Te Aihe was in transit to and from Europe for world series buildup regattas was clever.

Spithill said he has been frustrated at the length of time it took to get the Luna Rossa boats on to the water and said the learning curve was now very steep.

"We've got a year to go and it feels like we are just starting to sail these boats properly now." Spithill said.

Related articles

Sport|Sailing

Watch: America's Cup challenger's heart-stopping moment at sea

31 Jan 02:30 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Former PM Mike Moore has died at age 71

01 Feb 09:32 PM
Business

Ron Ainsbury: Why does NZ accept second best in business?

03 Feb 04:00 PM
Sport|Sailing

America's Cup over? Challenger fails to meet crucial deadline

03 Feb 02:00 AM

"Until you line up, you don't know the strengths and weaknesses. We have a new class with four completely different boats, completely different foils, control systems .. how will the crew sail it? It's such a fascinating period."

Spithill said he had reservations about a return to monohulls and initially didn't know whether he wanted to stay in the game.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"Competitively I wanted another shot, but another monohull … I don't know. Then when I saw the first drawing come out, I wanted to be back in it, thinking that was really cool."

He said this moment felt like San Francisco in 2013 when the decision was made to sail in 72-foot catamarans.

"It is such a big step again," Spithill told Robertson.

Jimmy Spithill was outfoxed by Peter Burling in 2017. Photo / File.
Jimmy Spithill was outfoxed by Peter Burling in 2017. Photo / File.

"The scale of the thing is big. When you go to a boat that has the loads like this, the big righting moment, the big arms with the big chunks of lead on the sides … it is incredible.

"The boats are really, really cool. The boats are very complex but it is just an amazing time to be involved again because it's so new and there is such a steep learning curve. You look forward to sailing every single day."

The 40-year-old said revenge was a factor driving his competitive spirit as he opened up on the emotions of watching Team New Zealand walk off with the cup..

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"First of all, you couldn't help but respect and admire what Team New Zealand had done. You look at San Francisco and that was brutal, the way that loss went.

"The fact they were able to regroup, pull themselves together and come back and run a campaign like that – and it was a perfect campaign, they didn't get anything wrong – you couldn't help but admire that and respect it.

"For me … it's hard to put into words ... but mostly you'd just let everyone down, that was the feeling."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Sport|Rugby

'Unanimous': Foster keeps job, Schmidt elevated to attack coach

17 Aug 03:10 AM
Premium
Sport|Rugby

Ian Foster's 'new dawn': How tide turned towards All Blacks coach

17 Aug 06:20 AM
Sport|Rugby

Ex-boss: NZ Rugby took 'soft option' in Foster decision

17 Aug 05:45 AM
Sport

Auckland City seal passage to Fifa Club World Cup

17 Aug 05:20 AM
Premium
Sport|Rugby

Gregor Paul: The critical change that helped Ian Foster keep his job

17 Aug 04:50 AM

Most Popular

Premium
My son couldn't read - now I know why: Inside NZ's falling literacy crisis
New Zealand|EducationUpdated

My son couldn't read - now I know why: Inside NZ's falling literacy crisis

17 Aug 04:50 PM
Massive fire at scrap metal yard in Christchurch
New ZealandUpdated

Massive fire at scrap metal yard in Christchurch

17 Aug 08:40 AM
7-year-old Wairoa boy died in Oranga Tamariki care
New ZealandUpdated

7-year-old Wairoa boy died in Oranga Tamariki care

17 Aug 08:20 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP