By JULIE ASH
Don't let the tension boil over or go cold; just keep it bubbling away.
That is the message from prominent sports psychologist Gary Hermansson to Team New Zealand as the wait for race four of the America's Cup drags on.
The fourth in the best-of-nine race series was postponed for
the fourth time yesterday. It is scheduled to start today at 1.15pm, but conditions again look marginal.
Given that they are down 3-0 against Russell Coutts' Alinghi, the match is a crucial one for Team New Zealand. A further loss would mean the Swiss syndicate have one hand on the Auld Mug.
"Team New Zealand have to try and relax as well because if they stay focused all the time the tension will manifest and boil over," said Hermansson, psychologist to the last three New Zealand Commonwealth and Olympic Games teams.
"But if they go cold it will be hard to warm up again. So they have to stay focused, but not too focused."
Hermansson is professor and head of the department of health and human development at Massey University.
He said leadership within the team would be important as it was essential that the crew remained in the right frame of mind. The team that can cope with the delays and stay focused and calm will be the one to win the next race, he believes.
But while the pressure is on Team New Zealand, Hermansson said the delays would be difficult for both teams.
"It gets harder to get yourself focused and geared up.
"For Team New Zealand, on one hand they want to get racing underway and on the other they don't want to take a gamble and race in risky conditions.
"For Alinghi, the risk factor is not stacked against them, but they will be wanting to keep the momentum going and reach their goal."
While there has been plenty of interest in the conversations between Harold Bennett, the principal race officer, and the teams on whether to race, Hermansson said little could be taken from them.
"People not responding to Harold Bennett quickly is obviously gamesmanship, but we see more of it on television than the crews do.
"It is part of this level of competition, like eyeballing people."
However, from what he has seen of the body language of the crews, the Swiss looked pretty smooth.
"It does appear that Alinghi are quite confident, bordering on arrogant, while Team New Zealand look a little more hesitant and a little less decisive."
From a sailor's perspective, former cup skipper Ed Baird said it was hard to determine who, if anyone, would benefit from the delay.
"I think for Team New Zealand it will probably give them the chance to reflect on where they are and sort a few things out," he said.
"For Alinghi, it will break their momentum and is probably frustrating, but they are still in a strong position of being 3-0 up ... "
Baird said all the sailors would be accustomed to sitting around waiting for conditions to improve.
"You learn how to deal with delays from an early age. You learn patience and not to burn yourself out.
"From what I have seen both look ready to go."
nzherald.co.nz/americascup
Racing schedule and results
By JULIE ASH
Don't let the tension boil over or go cold; just keep it bubbling away.
That is the message from prominent sports psychologist Gary Hermansson to Team New Zealand as the wait for race four of the America's Cup drags on.
The fourth in the best-of-nine race series was postponed for
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