How ‘the Bear’ defies his age to lift Ainslie’s crew to new heights
Manager Macbeth’s arrival on board has revived team, writes Tom Cary in Bermuda
With racing abandoned yesterday because of light winds out on Bermuda’s Great Sound, it was a chance for the sailors to recover from their exertions in what has so far been undoubtedly the most intensive, aerobically demanding America’s Cup in history.
These foiling catamarans are power-hungry machines; the sailors providing the power to drive the hydraulic systems that trim the sails and lift and drop the daggerboards. They are, in the words of Land Rover BAR’S sailing team manager Jono Macbeth, “relentless beasts”.
It takes one to know one. At 44, you might be inclined to think Macbeth needs more recovery time than most. And it is true that he is not as fit as some of the youngsters on the British team. But the Kiwi sailor – nicknamed ‘The Bear’ by his team-mates – is still fit enough to show the young pups how it is done every once in a while.
On Tuesday, Macbeth – a three-time America’s Cup winner – was called on to the Land Rover BAR boat as a grinder for his first race in this year’s Cup and his impact was immediate as he helped to halt a run of four consecutive defeats with a morale-boosting victory over Artemis Racing.
Macbeth played down his contribution yesterday, insisting his arrival merely “coincided with the team really coming together and sailing a good race”. But his team-mates were unanimous in talking up his impact in the immediate aftermath. Freddie Carr spoke of a presence and attitude that got the entire team in the right frame of mind. “His temperament today blew me away,” he said. “He brought an attitude on to the boat that resonated across the crew.”
Ainslie, too, was pleased with Macbeth’s impact, saying he had wanted a big-game player for what was a big game.
Macbeth knows all about those. Although not a sailor by training – he was 22 and working part-time in a kayak shop in Auckland when he received a tap on the shoulder from legendary Kiwi sailor Sir Peter
Ainslie said he wanted a big-game player for what was a big game
Blake, who needed help lifting a fridge-freezer; a meeting that led to Blake giving him a job as a grinder with Team New Zealand – Macbeth was Ainslie’s first signing for Land Rover BAR four years ago.
The British skipper talks about his team-mate’s integrity and strength of character and it is those qualities he brings when he is on the boat and off it, managing the Land Rover BAR team of sailors. Macbeth knows this game inside out. He was part of the New Zealand team that successfully defended the Cup in 2000, then won it again with Oracle Team USA in 2010 and 2013.
While he does not hit the same numbers in tests as Neil Hunter, say, who at 22 is half his age, he brings something else to the party; experience and presence. “These boats are super physical and I don’t think there are any secrets about my age,” Macbeth said yesterday, describing them as “quite a lot” more physical than the larger AC72S from four years ago.
“I’m in the autumn of my career. But we’ve got an incredible strength and conditioning team and they have got me to a level where it’s not a disadvantage physically to have me on the boat.
“I hope I get more opportunities. We’ll continue to put out the best people and the best team. If that includes me, that’s all good. It’s a long regatta and we are going to need a strong rotation.” It looks as if Land Rover BAR will continue to bring the Bear out of hibernation as and when required at this Cup.