Team NZ amassing high-profile entourage

Luna Rossa boss Patrizio Bertelli was on board Team New Zealand’s chase boat yesterday, giving the strongest indication yet the Italian team are first in line to be challenger of record if the Kiwi syndicate take out the America’s Cup.

Bertelli, who heads the luxury fashion house Prada, flew into Bermuda on Sunday. He was on hand to see Emirates Team New Zealand record two more dominant wins over Oracle Team USA and move to match point in the first-to-seven series.

Team NZ principal Matteo de Nora, who hosted Bertelli on his chase boat, would not be drawn on whether Luna Rossa would be challenger of record.

“Firstly, we have not won anything yet — that is important to remember,” de Nora told the Herald.

“We had some very important people on board today, but all the people who have gone against the tide and supported us are very important to us. For the past three years everyone has been against us, so we are very grateful to all those who have helped us and supported us when others wanted us gone.”

De Nora said any official challenge had to be lodged with the commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Steve Mair.

The Italian syndicate have had a close relationship with Team NZ, dating back to the 2000 America’s Cup match in Auckland. In the last event in San Francisco that relationship was strengthened to include the sharing of design information.

Bertelli withdrew from the current edition in protest after Oracle made sweeping changes to the format and design rules a year after the original protocol was released.

Bertelli has continued to support the New Zealand team, lending them the prototype test boat the Italians had been developing.

Luna Rossa personnel have also been key figures in the Team NZ design and sailing support staff, including skipper Max Sirena, who is one of the team’s technical advisers.

The relationship has helped boost Team NZ’s limited resources, but also kept the Italians abreast of the rapid developments in the ever-changing technology race.

Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli, who took the cup away from New Zealand in 2003, has also been spotted at the New Zealand base.

It is rumoured the Swiss pharmaceutical billionaire, who has not been involved with the event since losing the cup to Larry Ellison in a Deed of Gift challenge, has offered financial assistance to the Team NZ campaign.

British team Ben Ainslie Racing is understood to have also expressed an interest in being challenger of record.