America's Cup: Why Team New Zealand aren't scared of match point

Emirates Team New Zealand cycler Andy Maloney, third from left, reacts as they cross the finish line to win the fifth race of America's Cup sailing competition against Oracle. Photo / AP.

Match point.

After San Francisco, you would think those two words would be enough to send shivers down the spine of Emirates Team New Zealand.

Ray Davies, the team's performance coach, who was the tactician on board the Kiwi boat in 2013 when Oracle saved match point in eight straight races to reclaim the America's Cup, isn't frightened by the position Team NZ find themselves in.

He knows through bitter experience that this America's Cup is not over yet.

He also knows his team, and backs his young charges, and contemporary Glenn Ashby, to get the job done.

"This one has a very different feel to it. It's a very different set of circumstances - conditions-wise, the boats, the people," said Davies.

"But we've learned some very good lessons from that last Cup, and it's not over until you win that last race. Who knows what is around the corner?"

Davies is confident of one thing, however, that helmsman Peter Burling and crew will rise to the occasion over the coming days. With four Olympic medallists on board at any one time, Davies said the crew all know how to perform under pressure.

"It's not really a nerves thing, it's a big, big event and yeah there's a lot of pressure, but this is what the team does. We put ourselves under a lot of pressure at events all the time," said Davies.

"Obviously the younger guys in the team have also been in pressure situations a lot - that's what world class sport is.

"It is just another day's yachting for us and yeah, there'll be huge consequences if we can pull it off, but you just have to rise to the occasion."

Davies was part of Team NZ's weather team in 2003 when the Cup left New Zealand shores and has remained with the team over the past 14 years as they sought to have it return.

He has been agonisingly close to pull it off in San Francisco. Now the Auld Mug once again within reach, Davies said Team NZ will be doing everything they can to ensure they can convert match point tomorrow.

After notching up two convincing wins over Oracle today to take a 6-1 lead in the series, Team NZ remained out on the water after racing to try and "refine a couple of things.

Davies said the crew will also be out first thing in the morning to ensure they are sharp come race time in the afternoon.

"There's a lot to go over with the data - we're always trying to make the boat go better."
Davies said he is thrilled with the way the crew have been performing over the Cup match, after coming under pressure through the challenger finals.

"A lot of work of work has gone into getting to this point. A lot of long hours and a lot of debriefing and I'm just so thrilled to see the guys starting so well, executing really good tactics around the course, and going fast."