Emirates Team New Zealand, right, competes against two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA. Photo / AP
Emirates Team New Zealand, right, competes against two-time defending champion Oracle Team USA. Photo / AP
Spithill hooked
Jimmy Spithill and Oracle Team USA are no strangers to drinking at the last-chance saloon. You get the feeling this time they won't be let off the hook like they were in San Francisco four years ago.
The changes made to the American boat have made it onlyslightly faster but much harder to sail. It is hard to see the 11th-hour change swinging the momentum.
There is even talk Spithill might step aside and that Oracle Team USA could employ other personnel changes for today's racing.
Emirates Team New Zealand have five bites at the cherry. One single win from any of the next five races will see the Auld Mug make its third trip Down Under and second to New Zealand.
The other thing to watch will be to see who is on the Team New Zealand chase boat. Prada boss Patrizio Bertelli was on-hand yesterday to see the Kiwi boat move to match point. It is rumoured Prada, who have a close relationship with Team NZ, could be the challenger of record should Peter Burling and co lift the cup. Alinghi boss Swiss Ernesto Bertarelli has also been spotted in Bermuda and in the company of Team NZ.
Quotes of day
"We made plenty of mistakes out there today and we have plenty we can work on. I think that is the one thing that really excites us and keeps us motivated to move on. We are not taking anything for granted."
- Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling
"We have come back from a situation like this so that is something we have got to remember but to be quite honest we don't need to think about the end result. All we need to focus on is one race and one race at a time."
@MicaelaWessels Alarm is set for tomorrow morning to watch the boys @EmiratesTeamNZ bring the #AmericasCup home!
Weather watch
The weather looks good for racing with a forecast high of 28C. A sunny day with a few clouds will greet teams while 10-18km/h winds are predicted throughout the day.
Let's do it, Team NZ
Sky Tower lights black and white for Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Auckland's Sky Tower is lit up in black and white in support of Emirates Team New Zealand, who are taking on Oracle today for the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda.
After the team had victory snatched at the last minute in 2013, New Zealand is eager to show the team they're backing them for a win this time around.
With the score at 6-1, the battle is on to bring the Cup home.
