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The euphoria of America’s Cup victory kept the New Zealand public
on a sporting high for many months after the 1995 demolition job performed
by skipper Russell Coutts and crew, aboard NZL 32! It was a complete
and utter thrashing of the American defender.
Team New Zealand had set a new benchmark in technical excellence of
design and a no-nonsense professional attitude to crew management of
the yacht. The ‘Team also knew that the challengers in the next
regatta would have some scores to settle. There was damaged pride aplenty
and a lot of money would be thrown at the repair of shattered reputations
in the year 2000.
Despite some solid challenger effort Team New Zealand prevailed and
a highlight of the successful defence was Russell Coutts’ sailing
into history when he equalled the great helmsman Charlie Barr’s
America’s Cup race-winning record. Another win in the regatta
would give Coutts the outright record and also complete the defence
victory for New Zealand.
However, the great New Zealand helmsman stood aside and promoted his
practice sparring partner Dean Barker to helm NZL 60 in what did come
to be, the final race. The outcome of this race was written in stone
before the starting gun sounded. Tactician Brad Butterworth did a masterly
job of trapping the Italian challenger below the starting line and
at the gun ITA 45 was floundering for boat speed, short of the start
line, directly behind NZL 60.
For New Zealand and rookie America’s Cup helmsman Dean Barker, “A
PERFECT START”. |
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© 2007 Jim Bolland – All rights reserved
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