Crucial call gives Alinghi edge

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A crucial call from Alinghi's weather team seven minutes before the start of yesterday's third America's Cup race was a winner.

Asked at the post-race media conference why the Swiss had opted for the right side of the course, Alinghi weather strategist/mainsail traveller Murray Jones said: "We had planned to go left but we got a call from the head of our weather team, Jon Bilger, seven minutes before the start on the VHF radio.

"He said a right shift was coming. We went with it. I think that won it for us."

Bilger, who sailed for New Zealand in the 470 class with Craig Greenwood at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - Jones sailed in the Flying Dutchman at the same Games - made the call in the nick of time. With six minutes to start time the radios, and other equipment, have to be bundled up and thrown overboard.

"Generally, we follow the weather team," said Jones, who represented the Swiss syndicate at the conference. "They have more time to study the winds."

Bilger's call won support from tactician Brad Butterworth on the water. Jones said at the time he thought the left might have been the favoured side but added: "I heard Brad [Butterworth] say he would not be unhappy with the right.

"Until the last seven minutes the numbers looked good on the left. That late decision swung us away from that. I was a bit uncomfortable [with the call to change] but when the call came from the weather team there was still time to change.

"If it had been us on the left, it would have been difficult for us. Team New Zealand would probably have won the race. The left did not pay. I think they did the best they could to minimise the loss.

"They sailed very well."

Asked what his weather team had suggested, Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said they had a lot of different information.

"Towards the end they were probably favouring the right but it was not as clear as we wanted.

"But we did not get it right and were then left playing catch-up," said Barker. "The left was starting to look a little more powerful. There was a bit of confusion amongst us."

Asked whether he had been shaking his head in disbelief as they sailed the last leg, Barker said "no", adding it was more in disappointment.

"Against these guys they don't give you many opportunities to catch up, let alone pass. We were disappointed we were not closer at the start of the last run. They deserved to win today."

Team New Zealand tactician Hamish Pepper, who accompanied Barker, said: "The left got worse and worse for us."

Asked whether he thought it was time for a crew change, Barker said: "I definitely don't think we are doing anything badly. We think we are fast enough and sailing well enough around the course."

Reference was made at the conference to the difference Chris Dickson had made when he stepped onto Oracle and suggestions that Tom Schnackenberg could join Team New Zealand's on-water crew.

"I'll never say never," said Barker. "We don't have the luxury of having Chris Dickson on our boat. It is not as bad as some people might think.

"We have to win five of the next six races. I have the confidence in the guys to do it."

Questioned on boat speed and whether NZL 82 had "stretched its legs", Barker said he did not think there was a big difference in the two boats.

"It is more about putting your boat in the right part of the ocean. Not about boat speed. We are as even as we can be."

In looking at the five-year average age difference between the two crews, Jones said he did not think the extra years Alinghi had mattered much. "It is more about experience and the number of hard races we have had together."

Pepper pointed out there was also a lot of experience on Team New Zealand.

"Five years is not much of a difference. It is just a case of us going out there, getting ahead and showing what we can do."

Questioned about the biggest comeback in his yachting career, Pepper said: "I don't tend to look back too much. Right now, I'm looking ahead to Thursday."

The last word was with Barker.

"Things haven't changed. We still have to win five races. We have made two mistakes which are two too many. They have cost us points. It is easy to be disappointed if you feel you have sailed badly. I think the guys did a good job to keep it as close as we did."

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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