We wanted to race, say Alinghi

By JULIE ASH

Team New Zealand and Alinghi took different tacks when yesterday's fourth America's Cup race was called off.

The defenders opted to postpone after fickle winds showed no signs of improving by late yesterday afternoon.

But Alinghi spokesman Bernard Schopfer claimed his crew were disappointed with the decision.

"They felt the weather could have settled and they could have possibly raced," he said last night.

"Whether the score would have gone to 4-0 or 3-1 who knows, but the crew wanted to maintain the momentum."

At the scheduled race start time of 1.15pm the wind was very light, and although it picked up in strength, the direction was never settled, with 30-degree shifts regularly sweeping across the course.

"We thought there was going to be an opening at 3pm but 15 minutes later it just died," said principal race officer Harold Bennett.

"It was just one of those unusual days where it was shifty and up and down in breeze."

The deadline for racing to begin is 3.30pm, but if both teams agree the deadline can be extended, as seen in match two on Sunday when racing did not start until just before 4pm.

As the deadline approached yesterday, Bennett informed both teams that he felt the conditions would not improve in time to get a race in, and he sought their opinion.

Team New Zealand navigator Mike Drummond immediately agreed that the race should be postponed.

Bennett then told Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth that the race was off.

"Thanks, Harold. We are bitterly disappointed," Butterworth quipped.

Bennett said from the information he received there was nothing to show the conditions would improve.

"I know some boats stayed out there and were left fighting against wind shifts, so I think the call we made was right."

Team New Zealand would not comment further last night on their reason for abandoning the race.

"We are looking forward to Saturday and preparing for that," said spokesman Murray Taylor.

Coming back from 3-0 down will take a huge effort, but rebounding from 4-0 would be almost impossible.

After their 23s loss in race three, Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker said he did not expect there would be any crew changes, but two costly tactical blunders in races two and three convinced the team to bring on Frenchman Bertrand Pace to replace Hamish Pepper as tactician.

Pace, 41, was born in Dunkirk and has sailed since he was a child.

He raced in four French challenges before accepting Barker's invitation to join Team New Zealand as they rebuilt after the last cup.

A former world matchracing champion, Pace is known for his aggression and passion in sailing - in the last cup his French syndicate Le Defi were docked a point after a mid-race collision with Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes.

Although Pace has usually sailed as backup helmsman for Team New Zealand, he is also an experienced navigator and tactician, having sailed in those roles for the French.

Although he has lived in New Zealand for two years, he still struggles to understand English - or "Kiwi".

"Day after day I discover another word I don't understand and I have to get the guys to translate for me," he said recently.

Pace has spent most of his time helming Team NZ's tune-up boat but he has worked as tactician alongside Cameron Appleton and with Peter Evans on the world matchracing circuit.

It is understood his promotion came after discussion among senior team members. With today a layday, fans will have to wait until tomorrow to see whether it works.

nzherald.co.nz/americascup

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