America's Cup: Skipper Glenn Ashby scoffs at claims by race director Team NZ have a 'sacred wing'

The "sacred" wing, about to take a dip. Photo / Gilles Martin-Raget

Race director Iain Murray's description of a Team New Zealand wing as "sacred" is a load of old boots, or shoes, according to the Kiwi camp.

Aussie Murray thought TNZ had been forced into revealing a secret weapon. Team NZ skipper Glenn Ashby disagreed as the America's Cup mind games in Bermuda rumbled on.

Ashby said: "Both our wings are basically set up identically, so although you have your favourite, if you like, it's like your favourite pair of shoes - you put on another pair of decent shoes and you can still walk around in them quite comfortably.

"We've got two wings basically set up identically, so for me, as the wing trimmer, I don't care which one we use - they're both bloody good."

Murray questioned whether Team NZ's frantic late swap-out of their wing sail after sustaining damage shortly after entering the course yesterday, was prudent.

He claimed Team NZ were racing with the "sacred wing" they had been preserving for the possible Cup showdown with Oracle.

"Team New Zealand damaged their lower section of the wing, they returned to the dock doing 44 knots. They changed their wing from their reserve wing, to their race wing, which they were preserving for the America's Cup and expedited their return to the race course to race two more races - it was a decision made by Team New Zealand to take their best and sacred wing to the race course."