Lord of the foils?
This has been a difficult issue to get over the line – not for lack of material or because of unreliable contributors – but because I’ve struggled to emerge from the afterglow of ETNZ’S magnificent performance in Bermuda. It took a lot – and I mean a LOT – of whiskey to get my heart rate back to normal.
I don’t know about anyone else, but in the last few weeks my fantasies have often turned to how wonderfully this story could play out on the big screen. An against-all-odds-david-overcoming-goliath script with all the elements of a Peter Jackson blockbuster.
There’s the archetypal clash between dark and light, invention vs convention, the small underdog snapping at the heels of an overly vocal pitbull, the villains and the heroes. The unbelievable recovery after that spectacular but horrifying pitch-pole – when a nation stopped breathing. All set against the intrigue and manipulations that appear to dog every America’s Cup.
I can’t think of a love interest – but I’m sure Peter Jackson could work out something with one of the resourceful ladies who contributed their hair dryers to help repair the damaged wing. And may I respectfully suggest the ETNZ crew could play themselves? What a team! What d’ya think Pete? Cool title eh? Among the deluge of emails I received after the emphatic win, was this one from a writer at the event:
“It was such a good feeling to be a Kiwi in an environment where the opposition had screwed the scrum to such an extent that there just wasn’t any visual sign of ETNZ on the island except for their presence on the water.
“Every time NZ flags were installed along the road to the village they were removed overnight. ETNZ clothing was unavailable in any of the outlets in Hamilton and the media was totally focussed on the defender.
“A nice touch as the finals unravelled was that the locals produced a small composite flag with Bermuda’s on one side and NZ on the other. I think it was their way of saying congratulations.” I’ll just pour myself another.