Are Oracle Team USA on a collision course with Emirates Team New Zealand?

Oracle Team USA trail Emirates Team New Zealand 3-0 after the opening four races. Photo / Ricardo Pinto

Just how far will Oracle Team USA go to keep the America's Cup?

America's Cup Hall of Fame member Bruno Trouble told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking the American crew could create a collision on the water with Team New Zealand since they have the option to use a second boat and Team New Zealand don't.

Oracle Team USA were meant to declare whether they have a second boat before the start of the qualifying series - and didn't.

However it Oracle Team USA's close partnership with Team Japan could see them try and claim Dean Barker's boat as their second, if it came to that.

Oracle Team USA helmsman Jimmy Spithill didn't deny that Oracle Team USA had the option up their sleeve telling media this week "I'm hoping we're not going to need it".

Emirates Team New Zealand currently lead the America's Cup series 3-0 after the opening four races.

Trouble told Mike Hosking that Oracle causing a crash is a big fear but he thinks sportsmanship should stop it from happening.

"This time the boats are one-design so they can't do much except maybe have big collision with Team New Zealand, which is a big fear," Trouble told the Mike Hosking Breakfast.

"I don't think they will do that because they are sportsmen and they should not do that but this is maybe the only thing they can do unless the conditions are very different. But it looks like the conditions will be quite the same."