Hard way to learn: It’s not over till it’s over
Of all the weeks for Kiwi yachting fans not to be counting chickens this is it and yesterday’s turnover at the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda surely and sadly explains why.
A couple of poor results on the first day had left the New Zealand youth team with something of a mountain to climb if they were to emulate their Kiwi counterparts who won the title in San Francisco four years ago. That victorious team had Peter Burling at the helm, along with three other members of his 2017 America’s Cup crew — Blair Tuke, Andy Maloney and Guy Endean.
After a disappointing seventh and sixth, a second place in the third race on day one boosted confidence going into yesterday’s finals and the young Kiwis responded brilliantly.
Skipper Logan Dunning-Beck pulled off three cracking starts with perfect positioning and timing on the line. Sharp crew work gave their AC45 a jump on the fleet, popping on to its foils to sprint away for a remarkable trio of start to finish victories.
Flying at pace to the finish line a whopping 3min 30sec ahead, the crew, and the Kiwi supporters ashore, were already celebrating an astonishing three-bullet, clean-sweep comeback unaware of the drama unfolding behind them.
The British team, who’d gone into the final races topping the points table had suffered a much less successful day and needed a second place finish in the last race if they were to take the title.
Heading into the last mark they were buried in fifth spot behind Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. But as they approached the turn the Swedes fouled the Germans who crashed into the buoy. The Swedes were penalised and had to park up and wait for the Germans to disentangle themselves.
Taking advantage of the confusion, the British boat moved swiftly up into third spot behind the Swiss who then copped a penalty. That left a sprint to the line in which the British held off the Spanish to secure second place and the title.
The commentators couldn’t believe it: “Somehow, from a position in which they were dead and buried and the Kiwis were beginning to celebrate their Cup triumph, everything has conspired to bring the Cup to Great Britain.”
The Kiwis left shell-shocked, a disappointed but philosophical skipper Logan Dunning Beck saying simply: “That’s yachting.”
The youngsters were licking their wounds and settling for second.
Back in the Cup village another familiar refrain was ringing in Kiwi ears; “It’s not over till it’s over.”