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Sailing

Start not auspicious for Team New Zealand

NZL-82 breaks down twice, giving Swiss 1-0 America's Cup lead.

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 15, 2003

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Two-time defending champion Team New Zealand was forced to withdraw from the opening race of the America's Cup after its boat broke down twice less than 20 minutes after the start.

It was a disappointing end to the Kiwis' 10-race America's Cup win streak. The challenger, Alinghi of Switzerland, sailed alone on the last five legs of the six-leg, 18.5-nautical mile course to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-nine series.

It was a strange sight as Alinghi crossed the finish line on the mostly empty Hauraki Gulf, with many spectators leaving after the home crew was knocked out. With the strong breeze kicking up whitecaps, Alinghi sailed the downwind final leg with a jib instead of a spinnaker, hoping to avoid breakage. It dropped the jib well before the finish line.

Team New Zealand boss Tom Schnackenberg watched from a chase boat and did not know what caused the breakdowns.

"As far as the mood goes, I'd say the team would be annoyed as much as anything," Schnackenberg said. "Breakages can be repaired and the boat could probably be turned around in half an hour but there will be no problem coming out and racing tomorrow."

With the breeze gusting to 26 knots on the choppy Hauraki Gulf, NZL-82's troubles started when the end of the carbon fiber boom broke 10 minutes after the start, keeping the New Zealanders from controlling their mainsail.

The jib blew out minutes later. Skipper Dean Barker turned downwind, but it took several sailors to control the flapping sail and wrestle it below decks. When they tried to hoist a new headsail, it blew out, apparently because the track that attaches the jib to the forestay was broken.

The black boat officially pulled out 25 minutes after the start. One chase boat pulled alongside the 80-foot sloop and another came in to begin the hourlong tow to Auckland.

After leading almost all 50 marks in the past two Cup matches, the Kiwis did not complete the 3.25-nautical mile windward first leg.

The first sign of trouble on NZL-82 was when it took on water on the leeward side as it heeled against the wind. A crew member bailed with a blue bucket. The boat was heeling more than normal, apparently because the Kiwis could not control the mainsail.

Alinghi, steered by former Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts, took the lead when the boats crossed for the first time, just after the Kiwis' boom broke.

It was the first time a yacht had retired from a Cup race since 1920, when defender Resolute damaged its rigging and pulled out, handing the opening race to Thomas Lipton's Shamrock IV. Resolute overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

Coutts led Team New Zealand to a five-race sweep of Dennis Conner off San Diego in 1995 and to a five-race sweep of Italy's Prada in the 2000 defense.

Team New Zealand had not lost since April 15, 1995, when its 35-race winning streak was ended by John Bertrand's oneAustralia in the challenger final. The Kiwis won the challenger final 5-1 over the Aussies, then swept Conner. The Kiwis did not hold a defender series in 2000 or this year.

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