America's Cup: Chris Dickson

Everything blowing in Team NZ's favour

By CHRIS DICKSON

After three races it is now clear that Black Magic is faster than Prada's Luna Rossa. The Team NZ mast, sails, hull and probably keel, all add up to a significantly better package, and in America's Cup racing, the faster boat seldom loses.

It is not just superior boatspeed that is winning for Team NZ.

Russell Coutts is in complete command of the pre-starts, Brad Butterworth is closing down Prada's tactical options with absolute precision and, apart from the odd tear in the gennaker, the Team NZ crew work stands out head and shoulders above.

If the two teams were sailing equal boats, the score would probably still be 3-0 to Team NZ.

The start of race three was yet another botch-up by Prada, albeit to the untrained eye, a less obvious one.

If Prada wanted the left hand side of the course then they got it, but with starboard tack having right of way and therefore the advantage, the right hand side was always going to be favoured.

Prada unnecessarily gave Team NZ as much space to windward as they wanted, and so from 45 seconds before the start the die was cast.

For the next 25 minutes, Prada were never going to cross in front.

It seemed as if Prada were happy to simply sit back and accept second best, which, in a two-boat match race, isn't ever going to look good.

Match racing is a bit like a gun fight. You are going to get shot at and firing first is the best defence. Simply standing aside and hoping the other guy will miss is not a smart option; especially with a sharp shooter like Coutts.

Prada certainly knows by now they are up against a faster boat but when you start behind in a match race, passing is always going to be a tall order no matter how fast the opposition.

In addition to handing over the start, Prada also appeared subdued on the first downwind leg, where they should have been on the attack. They didn't seem to make the most of the situation, and by following Team NZ in long straight lines, it looked like the prisoner following the victor home on the end of a rope rather than the attacker looking to take a bite out of the black boat's back end.

The ease with which Team NZ are winning also shows that the five years of effort they have put in both on and off the water has been time well spent.

The black boat has a noticeable advantage upwind which they seem able to convert into either height towards the mark or speed straight ahead, depending on the tactical situation.

Team NZ have also been effective at sailing in a lower but faster mode upwind when the wind has shifted in their favour. Downwind, although the leg times appear to favour Prada, Team NZ seem to sail out of trouble when under pressure, which again suggests they are probably the quicker boat under every point of sail.

The odds of the America's Cup staying in NZ are looking solid but it is not out of the question for Prada to come back and win a race or two.

Apart from making the series more exciting, a five-one or five-two scoreline would better reflect what Prada is really capable of.

They have the potential; but first, a complete change in approach to the vital first 10 minutes of the race is needed and that means going on the attack.

Team NZ are doing a fantastic job but still have to win two more races. On current form, that would not appear too strenuous a task.