Team Alinghi: Simon Daubney
Simon Daubney is heading into his fifth America's Cup, and the Alinghi trimmer is a crucial team member.
Daubney started sailing at 12, shortly after his family moved to Auckland from Christchurch.
He first worked as a sail-maker, then since 1986 has been sailing fulltime on the
match-racing circuit.
With a truckload of world titles to his name, Daubney's first America's Cup experience was with New Zealand's KZ7 in 1987.
He was with New Zealand in San Diego in 1992, and again in 1995, when the Kiwis first laid their hands on the America's Cup.
He helped defend it in Auckland in 2000, before leaving to join Alinghi.
"We have not inherited any existing structure, which enables us to bring together people from all over the world," he says.
"The other interesting thing about this America's Cup campaign is having Ernesto as our owner. He knows what sailing is all about. It's his passion."
Team NZ: Burns Fallow
Burns Fallow is confident Team New Zealand have the right sails to give the black boats the edge.
"The sails are generally faster than last time - but they have to be," says Fallow, head of Team New Zealand's sail department.
This cup is Fallow's third with Team New Zealand.
Born in the South Island, he dabbled in sailing after his family shifted to Auckland when he was 14. At university he trained as an engineer, then went to work for North Sails, just after the KZ7 days.
When the 1995 Team New Zealand campaign was forming, Fallow was ready to have a go at the America's Cup, after having worked on Peter Blake's Steinlager II round-the-world yacht race campaign.
He said in every campaign the real challenge is to come up with new ideas.
With just a few days until race one, Burns is happy with the range of sails he and his team have created. "The thing about this event is that you really do live and die for it. It means the earth - there is no question about that."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
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