Kiwis On Top
Yachts & Yachting|August 2017

It is never easy to win the America’s Cup, but this year’s victory for Emirates Team New Zealand was truly remarkable. The Yachts & Yachting team takes a look back over a stunning regatta

Kiwis On Top

Before the 35th America’s Cup began, there were clues but no guarantees as to how it would play out. Even amongst themselves, there was the sense that the Kiwis had taken a gamble with their technology, with a clear departure from the ‘norm’.

Their win was a win for the underdog, a blow to the billionaire Larry Ellison backing Oracle Team USA for what he must have felt certain was destined to be a hat-trick victory, following San Francisco (2013) and Valencia (2010).

But the Kiwis were gunning for a hat-trick of their own – although not a consecutive one, 2017 marked the third time their country lifted the coveted Cup (San Diego 1995, Auckland 2000). Their helmsman, Peter Burling, is the youngest helm to have ever won, doing so in front of a crowd of over 100,000 watching the drama on the blue waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound. Burling was backed up on board by Blair Tuke, his 49er team mate with whom he won both silver and gold Olympic medals, and directed by Cup veteran and skipper Glenn Ashby. Also on board was cycling’s 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Simon van Velthooven and rowing’s 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joe Sullivan, taking the mercenary roles in the primary cyclor station, along with a wealth of Kiwi sailing talent.

The team’s determined fight back from their 2013 defeat began with a solid third in the AC World Series. By the time they arrived in Bermuda, they meant business, winning eight from 10 races in the qualifying series – a score equal to that of the defender. Crucially though, the Kiwis’ two losses were both to Oracle.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2017-Ausgabe von Yachts & Yachting.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2017-Ausgabe von Yachts & Yachting.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS YACHTS & YACHTINGAlle anzeigen
Super, smashing, great
Yachts & Yachting

Super, smashing, great

How do you stand out in one of the most competitive sectors of boat building? Sam Jefferson steps aboard the Dufour 390 to find out

time-read
7 Minuten  |
June 2020
ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY 49°27.19'N, 002°32.00'W
Yachts & Yachting

ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY 49°27.19'N, 002°32.00'W

This haven on Guernsey is the ideal starting point to explore the beauty of the Channel Islands, as Emma Bamford discovers

time-read
7 Minuten  |
June 2020
Round the Island Q&A
Yachts & Yachting

Round the Island Q&A

Dave Atkinson, director of the Round the Island Race, now postponed until the autumn, explains some decisions and breaks down misconceptions about the race in a revealing chat with Rupert Holmes.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
June 2020
The rest is Istria
Yachts & Yachting

The rest is Istria

Nicola Beykirch headed to Venice in search of a cheap winter berth and endured the hardship of sailing the length of the Croatian coast en route

time-read
10 Minuten  |
June 2020
Grinding to a halt
Yachts & Yachting

Grinding to a halt

Sent home from warm-weather training in Sardinia amid Covid-19 restrictions, grinder Freddie Carr updates us on what is now for INEOS TEAM UK and the America’s Cup

time-read
8 Minuten  |
June 2020
From a distance
Yachts & Yachting

From a distance

Rob Peake looks at what ‘sailing’ we can do via distance learning courses and online regattas

time-read
9 Minuten  |
June 2020
Flying the flag
Yachts & Yachting

Flying the flag

Her rise through the ranks has been meteoric and her helm Charlotte Dobson calls her ‘an absolute weapon’. Rob Peake meets 49erFX crew Sakia Tidey

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 2020
Eire on a shoestring
Yachts & Yachting

Eire on a shoestring

The Irish sea deserves respect, but the rewards of a summer cruise can be great, as Don Smith notes

time-read
7 Minuten  |
June 2020
Ace Your Club Race
Yachts & Yachting

Ace Your Club Race

Quirky courses and mixed fleets - Mark Rushall talks tactics and sorts strategy for club race situations

time-read
7 Minuten  |
May 2020
WIZARDS IN OZ
Yachts & Yachting

WIZARDS IN OZ

After Ainslie’s spectacular series debut, ROB KOTHE speaks to SailGP skippers on the lessons learned in Sydney, and finds out what’s next from Russell Coutts

time-read
9 Minuten  |
May 2020