Power Steering for Coutts
The victorious Alinghi campaign was described by Larry Ellison, head of Oracle as, “a fine Swiss watch with a few Kiwi parts”, none more influential than helmsman Russell Coutts. The win establishing him as one of the…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Kiwi vs Kiwi
Team New Zealand will face the Swiss challenge Alinghi in the America’s Cup finals in February, setting up a match up between Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts and his understudy when he was at the helm of…
Schnack Attack
“They have lured away many of NZ’s best sailing minds and talents in the quest for the Cup, but they are all still chasing one Kiwi who did not budge and whose mind and talents may…
“Billionaires Behaving Badly”
Uncooperative wind and weather has made for a rather patchy America’s Cup series so far. Luckily, viewer-distraction has been provided in the form of feuding billionaires. Sports Illustrated: “Yachting has never been a sport for the masses, but…
The (Edge) Spirit of a Sailor
USA Today ponders Kiwi dominance of the America’s Cup. “No matter that the boats will fly the flags of Switzerland and the United States. The men at the helm are Kiwis, New Zealanders, “mates.” Kiwis are…
Kiwi’s Cup
“America’s Cup? Why, we call it the Kiwi’s Cup now!” An encounter with “a proper cocky Kiwi” sees Post writer Angus Phillips ruminate over this auld mug called the America’s Cup. This year’s competition sees New Zealanders…
America’s Cup: Billionaires and Espionage
“Yacht racing has been compared to tearing up $10 bills while standing in the shower. In the case of America’s Cup racing, make that $1,000 bills.” Time Magazine delves into the high rolling depths of…
ABC: Auckland Billionaire’s Club
Warren St. John backgrounds the moguls and money questing for the America’s Cup, pondering at the ‘pet projects’ of sporting tycoons like Larry Ellison: “they have hired the best sailors money can buy, sometimes moving them…
Auckland Holding its Breath
The 2002 America’s Cup challengers series has begun (click here for BBC, CNN coverage), launched with fanfare on the streets of Auckland. The competing teams paraded through the central city, the Swedes blasting ABBA,…
America’s Cup Build-up
Team NZ captain Dean Barker beat ex-boss Russell Coutts 3-0 in the Swedish Match Cup finals. Coutts is heading Alinghi, Switzerland’s America’s Cup challenger. In other Cup news, Team New Zealand launch the first of…
Sir Peter Blake Honoured at World Sport Awards
Sir Peter has been posthumously given both the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award and the Laureus Sport for Good Award at the 2002 World Sports Awards in Monte-Carlo. Sir Peter, was a founding member of the Academy…
Counting Down and Counting Up
The 31st America’s Cup is 13 months away, but the Hauraki Gulf is already a hive of activity as 1 syndicates prepare to battle for the Auld Mug. And Government puffs up Team NZ’s sails with…
Kiwi Hero Laid to Rest
A thousand mouners gather at the parish church of St Thomas a Becket in Warblington to pay their respects to the late Sir Peter Blake. “Peter Blake was a living legend. I believe that he was…
Olympic Honours
The International Olympic Committee will award the Olympic Order to Sir Peter Blake, one of its highest honours. IOC President Jacques Rogge declares Blake “one of the most gifted and successful yachtsmen in the world”.
America’s Cup 2003
See the ranking of the announced and unannounced contenders for the next America’s Cup as judged by ESPN celeb Gary Jobson. Team New Zealand is the favourite and is ranked number one based on management, funding, design,…
History of the Cup
A rundown on the history of the world’s oldest sporting trophy, currently held by Team NZ.
America’s Cup Lead-up
Update on the preparations of the American and British Challengers for the Louis Vuitton cup in October next year.
Magic Lives On
Six years ago the Black Magic team completed their historic 5-0 sweep of the America’s Cup.
Kiwi Leads Brits
“Most of Kiwi Andrew Longmore’s working life has been devoted to the pursuit of sailing’s Holy Grail. No one has helmed more miles in an America’s Cup boat than Barnes, in racing, testing and development over…
America’s Cup Turns 150
“It would have felt very wrong to have hosted a celebration of the fact that we lost the cup in 1851, haven’t seen it since and are making no attempt to get it back,” says John…
Cup Challenge
Seattle telecommunications billionaire Craig McCaw is sending a team to challenge for the cup – American sailors well leavened with ex-Team NZites.
Precision Boat
Details of the construction Louis Vuitton challenger Young America, designed by Aucklander Bruce Farr.
Coutts Coming
The Swiss syndicate headed by Russell Coutts has been cleared to challenge in 2003, after doubts about the legality of the entry.
Conner On
Dennis Conner will skipper the New York Boat Club’s 2003 challenge, hoping to end the Cup’s twenty-year residence away from the NYYC.
Oracle Speaks
Flippin heck, the Chris Dickson-skippered boat for Larry Ellison’s Oracle America’s Cup challenge does an unchartered turn during a training run on the Waitemata. The boat’s 21- ton keel “inexplicably sheared off”.
Barker on Pace
Team NZ skipper Dean Barker tops the November World Match Race Rankings, beating his lieutenant Bertrand Pace into second place.
Our Cup Overflowed
The America’s Cup generated NZ$640 million in economic activity. Competing syndicates spent $149.2 mill, nearly matched by $118 mill from super-yacht spectators.
Conner Cautious
Dennis Conner will be in Auckland contesting the Cup in 2003, but he sure isn’t feeling complacent: “There’s so much depth of talent in New Zealand…They’ll still be difficult to beat, ” he told the NY…
Team NZ Pickup Pace
Having carried off the wine prizes, we’re now taking skippers. Bertrand Pace, who skippered the French boat in the last America’s Cup, has signed on with Team NZ. “I am very pleased and excited to join the…
Dean’s Decision
Dean Barker, Team New Zealand skipper, had ten minutes to make up his mind to take the hottest seat in sailing.
If You Can’t Beat ’em, Buy ’em: It’s the American Way
“Let’s face it, American’s hate to lose at anything, from tiddlewinks on up, and we had come to view the America’s Cup as our personal possession. But then New Zealand hung us by the mizzenmast … …
They’re Playing Monopoly
There’s always been a strong connection between sailing and skiing, but listen to what FIS officials have to say about their situation: “The domination of the sport by the Austrians has become an increasing concern.” At this…
The America’s Cup is New Zealand’s Cup
Exclaimed a jubilant Peter Montgomery when New Zealand won in 1995 – and doesn’t the world know it now. The humid Hauraki Gulf breeze not only filled the sails of Team New Zealand to…
America’s Cup: New Zealand Style
“Is this Monte Carlo, Rio de Janeiro, Cannes or Santa Catalina, the playground of California’s rich and famous?” Auckland, New Zealand’s “City of Sails”, must have been tourism’s best-kept secret destination – the Pacific’s own Riviera –…
That Auld Mug? Why Should Anyone Care?
“No wonder the Kiwis hate us. This week, Team New Zealand became the first syndicate to successfully defend the America’s Cup in its 149-year history, and the Australian media barely bothered to acknowledge it.” The trans-Tasman perspective.
US Venture Capitalists Eye Kiwis
New Zealand’s win of the America’s Cup confirmed its yachting prowess. Now the country wants to be known for its high-tech wares.
Week of Glory for New Zealand
“Little New Zealand” has done it again. A country of less than 3.8 million people has once again proved how talented it is at sports.
Ciao for Now New Zealand
Beaten by Black Magic, Prada promises they’ll be back for America’s Cup rerun. Minutes after New Zealand’s Black Magic sailed past the finishing line to clinch the America’s Cup with a 5-0 whitewash …
Black Magic Casts its Spell; All New Zealand Celebrates
Skipper Russell Coutts always put the emphasis on ‘team’ in Team New Zealand, and today, he gave an understudy the glorious job of winning the America’s Cup …
New Zealand Sweeps Up
Dean Barker, a fresh-faced 26-year-old backup skipper and Russell Coutts’s protege, helmed Team New Zealand to its second America’s Cup win yesterday, beating Italy’s Prada by 48 seconds to sweep the series, 5-0
Cool Hand on Deck
“Sir Peter Blake, head of Team New Zealand, is that rare thing: an international celebrity who has remained popular in a homeland where cutting “tall poppies” down to size is a national pastime …”
Yacht to Watch this Animation
You won’t get the sea-breeze or the sea spray, but an internet animator from New Zealand can almost get you to the America’s Cup.
Break Up the Kiwis: Rout of Prada Complete
“Will it be another 130 years before anyone can wrest the cup from the Kiwis?” The extensive New York Times coverage of the America’s Cup.
