By ALAN PERROTT
It's race day at the Viaduct Harbour, so it is more than likely that Rae and Iris have been cheering on Team New Zealand for several hours.
Lifelong friends Iris Franks and Rae Standring from Glendowie have their chairs and supplies set up at the entrance to the Viaduct
from about 5am before each race, flags already waving and just busting to cheer.
Win, lose or sink, these are Team New Zealand's number-one fans.
"We just want to be able to tell the team every day how wonderful we think they are," says Iris.
"We want to show them the loyalty they have shown us."
Rae broke a bone in her hand trying to reach a small model yacht tossed ashore from a passing boat. But rather than getting treatment, the seventy-something just wrapped her hand in a wet towel and hunkered down for a day of serious loyalty.
Not even a large security guard could budge them from their spot to make way for a private function. "We told him he'd have to carry us out," says Iris, a coy sixty-something.
They almost exploded with pride yesterday when one of the team's chase boats produced a sign thanking them for their support.
The pair are scarily passionate. For every word of praise they offer to Team New Zealand there is an equal and opposite word of condemnation for the Skiwis with Alinghi, or Dingalingi, as they prefer to call them.
"There are only two Swiss nationals in the whole team," complains Rae. "The rest are foreigners or traitors in our book."
And just in case any of the Standring clan are considering the lure of the Swiss franc - don't.
"I don't care how much money they offer, I wouldn't go. I wouldn't even talk to my son if he ever took it. I'd disown him."
The pair were out on the Hauraki Gulf for yesterday's race - later abandoned - thanks to the help of some fellow Team NZ supporters.
"Everybody's generosity has been overwhelming," says Iris. "We still haven't come down to Earth."
Their Dunkirk spirit is spreading and is pulling many spectators back to the Viaduct.
Joanne Hibbert from the North Shore is another of those on deck at 9am every day with "loyal" facepainting, flag and black shirt. She has even allowed her daughter to skip a day of school to cheer on their team.
Yesterday she was at the Viaduct alone.
"This is my time today. I love the patriotism, the atmosphere and the camaraderie. Even if the race is cancelled I'm still reluctant to leave. It's just so emotional. I cried when they lost the second race. When I talked to the mums at the supermarket, they had cried as well. We are just so proud, no matter what happens."
Judeth Orr from Titirangi doesn't know one end of a boat from the other, but says she is hooked on the America's Cup.
If she's not at the Viaduct, she has three televisions spread around her home so she can keep track of every second.
"You can't help but be swept up with it. I was pretty choked up this morning when they went out. It feels like we've really achieved something bringing all this here. It's the best thing that's happened to New Zealand."
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
By ALAN PERROTT
It's race day at the Viaduct Harbour, so it is more than likely that Rae and Iris have been cheering on Team New Zealand for several hours.
Lifelong friends Iris Franks and Rae Standring from Glendowie have their chairs and supplies set up at the entrance to the Viaduct
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