By TERRY MADDAFORD
One from the "Only in New Zealand" file.
Stefan Fodor and a couple of his mates from French challenger Le Defi, taking a well-earned, two-day break and fearing they were lost somewhere in the middle of the North Island, leaned over a fence to ask a farmer for
directions.
Spotting their distinctive team uniforms, he immediately engaged them in conversation about yachting and the Louis Vuitton Cup.
"It was amazing," said Fodor, as he and the rest of the challenging syndicates marked time ashore yesterday.
"Here we were, miles from the sea and this guy was talking yachting.
"He said he could see we lacked boat speed downwind and that some of our crew work was poor.
"We were blown away. There is nowhere else in the world this would happen."
Fodor, in Auckland for his second America's Cup campaign after being on Abracadabra last time, is not your typical yachtie.
Born in America to French parents, he spent his early years in France, having moved there when two weeks old. Now, holding dual French/American citizenship, Fodor resides in Massachusetts where, when his sailing allows, he practises as a lawyer.
Never a small boat sailor, he first sailed a 40-footer six years ago.
Fodor said he spent his younger years playing American football, then went looking "for something to do."
It has, since then, been very much "have chance, will sail" - all around the world.
"Notwithstanding the weather, there is no place like this in the world," said Fodor, as he watched the rain bucket down on Le Defi's tent headquarters yesterday.
"I've sailed out of San Diego and Newport and plenty of other places. Nothing comes close to what you have here. The interest from such a small country is unbelievable."
While he admits he and the rest of the French challenge are up against it, he says there will be no letting up by Le Defi in their remaining races.
"We haven't resigned ourselves to an early exit, but having said that, the level of the playing field is much higher this time. We know we can't continue to make the mistakes we did in the first round robin if we want to make the quarter-finals.
"We were disappointed to lose to Mascalzone Latino in a close match in the first round robin," said Fodor, who is a grinder on the boat and a hydraulics expert/winch hand on shore.
"We did well in that and other races, but were let down by poor downwind boat speed and some shoddy sail-handling.
"But anything is possible in this game. We have seen GBR and Oracle being knocked off. Results like that certainly give us heart.
"On a given day, anyone can win."
Fodor believes there is not a significant difference in the crew work among the syndicates. It just comes back to eliminating the mistakes."
While he would obviously like to see the French go all the way, Fodor has a soft spot for Team New Zealand.
"I've sailed with a lot of their guys and know they have the depth to put a very good crew together. I certainly give them a chance to defend the cup, but I don't think we will see the same domination we saw last time.
"I wouldn't mind if Team New Zealand held on and the next America's Cup was back here. I love New Zealand."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule, results and standings
By TERRY MADDAFORD
One from the "Only in New Zealand" file.
Stefan Fodor and a couple of his mates from French challenger Le Defi, taking a well-earned, two-day break and fearing they were lost somewhere in the middle of the North Island, leaned over a fence to ask a farmer for
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