It's the big rig that counts

By TERRY MADDAFORD

All eyes were on what had or had not been changed below the waterline when the skirts were dropped on the America's Cup boats yesterday, but the key to winning or losing the Auld Mug may well be above the deck rather than below.

Southern Spars director Steve Wilson is, not surprisingly, more interested in the rig, the mast, the rigging, the boom and, to a lesser extent, the spinnaker pole than "the bits down below."

Wilson was closely involved with Team New Zealand, especially in the 1995 and 2000 campaigns, and his company supplied the rigs for all but the Alinghi and Areva syndicates for the present regatta.

He says there is an obvious difference between Team New Zealand and Alinghi.

"From what I have seen, Alinghi have simply taken their rig a step or two on from where Team New Zealand left off last time. In going to four, rather than three, spreaders, Team New Zealand have taken theirs a step further.

"They must feel they have been able to do this with no weight penalty [disadvantage] and perhaps only a small wind penalty. They have done this for a good reason.

"They obviously looked at the transverse stability, which was a feature of the original millennium rig which they used last time.

"I know how thoroughly Team New Zealand test things," Wilson said. "You would not put in an extra spreader unless you were convinced it would work.

"In making these changes, you are looking for any slight advantage. A fraction of a second a mile can mean 10s to 15s in a race - the difference between winning and losing."

The rigging, about 160m of high-tensile stainless steel wire, is put under tremendous stress and strain. There is a fair degree of anxiety on and off the boat, especially when the winds get up.

"At anything over 18 knots these boats are a bit scary," Wilson said. "You are constantly looking at everything and wonder whether you have got it right."

The rig was designed by Chris Mitchell and Team New Zealand's rig design team.

They worked alongside Team New Zealand's overall design team of Tom Schnackenberg, Mike Drummond and Clay Oliver in coming up with the concept, which was then taken to Southern Spars.

There they worked closely with David Barnaby to produce it.

"You try to keep it simple," Wilson said, "but these boats are quite complicated. There is a tremendous load on the rig. In a breeze they can become a nightmare.

"As I see it, Team New Zealand started with an excellent package. They have now taken that up a step. Any little gain can make a difference."

Early on, Schnackenberg said to those he worked with at Southern Spars that he felt the biggest gains might come from development above the water rather than below.

Time alone will tell.

"We are proud of our involvement," Wilson said, "and we certainly have enjoyed it."

So, from where will Steve Wilson watch Saturday's opening race?

"I don't know. I might get away from it all and go up to the bach at Tutukaka and watch on television."

The tension, for sure, will be just as intense.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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