2017

said of boats and crew pushing the limits.

‘‘Interesting that there have been accusations of deliberate damage. But we are going to see as people are pushing the boats harder and harder it’s going to get closer and closer, so there is going to be plenty of action.’’

Team France skipper Franck Cammas said: ‘‘We are on the edge.’’

Team New Zealand’s Peter Burling backed that up, saying: ‘‘Everyone has seen how close the racing is getting and how good all the teams are getting at handling their boats and getting that nth degree out of their equipment.

‘‘It’s just something that’s going to keep getting tighter and tighter. You saw exactly the same in the last America’s Cup where the racing kept getting tighter and tighter as the competition went on and as everyone learns how hard they can push these boats.’’

Oracle’s Jimmy Spithill knows all about development through a regatta as he showed with his team’s remarkable comeback to defend the Cup from Team New Zealand in San Francisco four years ago.

‘‘The harder you push these boats the harder they go, it’s as simple as that,’’ Spithill said.

The question of what happens to boat damaged in racing by a collision from an opponent hangs heavy over this regatta which has such a tight racing schedule and will severely disadvantage any boat that is sidelined.

Spithill was questioned on exactly that but didn’t have an answer other than seeing it as a bit of hard luck that was all part of racing.

‘‘Everyone has one race boat. A lot of us have spares [parts)] and each team will have to deal with that on a case by case basis,’’ Spithill said.

‘‘But I think when you look at other sports it’s no different. If a car gets hit, they get taken out on the first corner, it’s the same situation.’’