In a high-powered yacht race timing is everything. And when you are sponsored by one of the world's oldest watchmakers, it pays to get your timing right.
This photograph 9above) of Ernesto Bertarelli, taken in race three, drew a gasp of horror from Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer for obvious reasons.
It shows
the Alinghi syndicate head apparently wearing a watch by Suunto, made in Finland, and not a watch by sponsor Audemars Piguet, made, of course, in Switzerland.
Mr Schopfer asked the Herald not to run the photograph, as it was "a bit embarrassing".
He said he had no idea what the stand-in watch was, but that it was "probably a racing watch". The Suunto Mariner features a sailing timer, a barometer and a compass.
The commemorative Audemars Piguet Royal Oak City of Sails watch, on the other hand, has some very nice features including an Alinghi logo. Perhaps we will see it on Bertarelli's wrist today.
* * *
What happens when a far-too-clever-adman gets bored? He tries to stir by sending newspapers things like this. "Rumour has it ... America's Cup Deed of Gift, Section VIII Paragraph 4b: If racing is cancelled on no less than 5 consecutive race days due to inclement or unsuitable weather conditions, as adjudged by the then Principal Race Officer, all previous results shall be deemed null and void. Competition will be resumed at 0 - 0."
Oh, if only.
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The America's Cup cyanide threats made big news in other parts of the world. The New York Times also reported it, but highlighted the "business as normal" mentality down at the Viaduct by talking to two bobbies on the beat yesterday: "Two policeman took time out from patrolling the stormy waterfront to play a match-racing video game at the Swiss compound."
Apparently it was the video game that simulates an America's Cup race, and one officer was quoted saying "It's quite a cool game."
With that kind of activity in the job description we can't imagine why the police have trouble filling jobs in Auckland.
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A display of artistic cows planted around Auckland had at least a couple of farming visitors to the Viaduct Harbour concerned.
The sheep herders from Otago, standing firm against the bovine invasion down south, were worried Auckland had succumbed.
"What is this, a dairy farmers' takeover," they asked, missing the theme of the exhibition altogether.
But then, what is the point of cow sculptures?
Continuous coverage of today's America's Cup race will begin on nzherald.co.nz at 12.30pm.
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule and results
In a high-powered yacht race timing is everything. And when you are sponsored by one of the world's oldest watchmakers, it pays to get your timing right.
This photograph 9above) of Ernesto Bertarelli, taken in race three, drew a gasp of horror from Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer for obvious reasons.
It shows
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