Tough to get choked up all over again

In the world of sports, the America’s Cup comes in low on a list of competitions I find myself counting down the days to. In fact, I’ve had to research when the regatta officially gets underway a few times. It’s today, just FYI.

Every time it’s mentioned I just think about the 2013 regatta and how the Kiwi troupe blew an 8-1 lead. What a glorious choke that was.

It’s hard to get excited about something when you were wildly disappointed the last time it happened. Yes, it’s been four years, but have I been following boats and upgrades and crew changes across the field over those four years?

Have I given it a second thought since the end of September in 2013? I can safely say no.

So no, I’m not excited about the America’s Cup. But will I be watching it? You bet.

Such is the case with many Kiwis. I haven’t given it much of a thought in the buildup to the event – only learning it was being held in Bermuda a month or so ago.

Is it not the same every year?

Gone are the glory days of walking around Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour and soaking in the local buzz around the regatta.

Gone are the days of going out to buy a pair of lucky red socks to wear when Team New Zealand were out on the water.

Unless you have a particular interest in sailing, which I would go out on a limb and say is a select few of you, you wait around until the event starts, see how Team New Zealand is going, then jump on the bandwagon come finals time. Sound familiar? On that point, if Team New Zealand are out early, will you keep following the regatta, or let it fall out of your mind completely?

While many Kiwis, including myself, huddle around the TV set to watch Team New Zealand during the regatta, there’s absolutely no buzz about town leading into it, and it falls by the wayside almost immediately afterwards.

It’s fun to show your country pride during it, but it’s certainly not an event that I get excited about.