Two days of practice races boost for TNZ
YACHTING
AUCKLAND: As the challengers prepare to race in the Prada
Cup from Friday, Team New Zealand is set to get a significant boost in its quest to retain the America's Cup.
Some lastminute negotiating has resulted in two days of practice racing, that will include defender TNZ, scheduled for today and tomorrow before the start of the Prada Cup challenger series.
Regatta director Iain Murray indicated after last month's America's Cup World Series regatta he wanted to stage additional races to allow officials to further test their equipment and race management before the challenger series.
But while that was met by an enthusiastic response from Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling, who faced the prospect of spending the next two months without any competitive racing, it received a lukewarm response from all three challengers — Luna Rossa, American Magic and Ineos Team UK.
However, last week American Magic chief executive Terry Hutchinson said his team would be open to some more practice racing.
‘‘It would be a mistake to close any door,’’ Hutchinson said.
‘‘I think there is as much to gain for the competition out of an efficient race committee, so giving them more time to make the competition better, you would happily support that.’’
Hutchinson added there would not be much motivation for the challengers to give the defender another opportunity to check in.
‘‘But if the decision was made that it's all or nothing, either you get to run the races but everybody has to be included, then I think we would consider any reasonable offer to it.’’
A compromise has clearly been reached and it is understood all four teams will have practice races today and tomorrow before the challengers' boats are officially measured on Wednesday, for the Prada Cup opening round robin, starting on Friday.
It is understood the practice races could not be held unless Team New Zealand was included.
Each team will have four practice races, news that will no doubt please the Kiwis, who will then spend the next eight weeks going it alone while the challengers compete for the right to challenge for the Auld Mug.
With the oneday Christmas Cup race scrapped on December 20 due to a lack of wind, TNZ had only six races against the challengers and the addition of four more practice races will benefit it.
Sir Ben Ainslie's Ineos Team UK will also get the chance to assess the reported improvements in its performance after undergoing several changes.
The British challenger failed to secure a win in the threeday regatta before Christmas and has spent days in the shed overhauling Britannia. — The New Zealand Herald