Alinghi praise crew's expertise

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Alinghi strategist Jochen Schuemann pointed to crew work rather than the boat as the reason for today's nailbiting win over Team New Zealand.

Speaking at a media conference after the second race - which centre director Bruno Trouble remarked that it was like watching gladiators at the Colosseum - Schuemann said: "That [crew work] is what we always think. All the effort over the past three years is paying off now."

Of their slow first downwind leg, Schuemann, Alinghi's sole representative at the after-race conference said: "We got it wrong completely. We did everything wrong we could."

He later added that "for a long time it looked like the day would end at 1-1."

Pressed further, he said: "I think the speed of both boats is very even. There will many more tight, close races."

Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, while obviously disappointed at being pipped on the last leg, kept a brave face.

"We made a couple of mistakes early on the last leg," Barker said. "Those resulted in the race finishing up much closer. We probably needed to gybe a bit earlier because there was more pressure to the left.

"Alinghi benefited from that and was able to roll us before we got to the lay line. After that it was close enough for them to put the pressure on us."

Barker dismissed suggestions that lack of hard racing - as enjoyed by Alinghi in the Louis Vuitton Cup - was the reason behind the loss.

"Our in-house racing has been as hard as they had in the challengers' series."

Of the failure of the damaged NZL81 to accompany their race boat out today, Barker said he could give no specifics about the damage, but was sure the back-up boat would be ready to sail tomorrow or, at latest, by Tuesday's scheduled third race.

"There is nothing we can't fix.."

Asked whether there was any mental hurdle for himself and his crew to overcome, Barker replied: "We put a lot of time and effort to prepare as well as we could.

"We have taken a lot of confidence from today's race for the rest of the series. It is nice when you can have some close racing in light airs.

"The two boats seem very similar in all conditions. I can see a tight, hard-fought contest."

Mainsheet trimmer Tony Rae, who accompanied Barker, was asked at what stage he felt any advantage from the hula appendage might kick in. He said: "We hope it kicks in all the time. In Auckland you have to sail in extreme conditions. We are happy to sail in anything."

Barker dismissed suggestions that a wrong sail selection on the final leg had cost them the race.

"We are happy with our sails. It was not a wrong sail selection which cost us."

Of the tacking duel on the fifth leg - 33 tacks according to Trouble - Schuemann said he felt Team New Zealand had perhaps done better.

"They had a little advantage in leading. It was good practice for everyone."

Barker admitted there had been a range of emotions, but said he never counted on the race being over.

"In light winds and tricky conditions we were mindful the race was still a long way from over.

"We are disappointed to have lost that race, but we will take some positives from it. We know we are competitive. It is now up to us to make sure we don't make the same mistakes."

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