Emirates Team New Zealand Crashes with Louis Vuitton Timing Boat
© Christian Winthrop
www.thenewportbuzz.com
America’s Cup Newport Rhode Island – Team New Zealand Crash
Unfortunately on the sail in things really went badly for us. We had to avoid some spectator boats and as we headed up to avoid them went into a big hull fly which I was certain going to result in a capsize. As we rounded up the boat decided not to go all the way over but unfortunately one of the Race Committee mark boats who was heading in found themselves on a collision course with us. We managed to fly our windward hull over their bow and hit them with both the King post and under rigging which broke, and then damaging our windward rudder on their bow railing. Things could have been a whole lot worse but thanks to the good work of our shore crew the boat is already back in one piece and ready to go again tomorrow.
The one lesson from today is that you need to have respect for these boats at all times. The minute you relax or lose concentration things can happen so quickly. And none too timely a lesson either with the 72 not too far away.
- Dean Barker, Skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand
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