skippy505 Roar Rookie By skippy505, 14 Sep 2013 skippy505 is a Roar Rookie
Our Kiwi cousins have managed to master a new, outrageously fast and spectacular sailing class and have thwarted the mighty Oracle Team USA in the seventh race of the Americas Cup. These foiling cats are a revelation, offering not only amazing TV but also very aggressive and enjoyable racing. My non-sailing mates have been watching the excellent coverage on Fox sports and are hooked. It is high sport. The ruthless efficiency, lack of mistakes and super-detailed preparation reminds me of watching the All Blacks. They give nothing away and just make you pay for every minor error. The pressure on Oracle Team USA was too much on Wednesday, with skipper James Spithill playing the “Time-out” card and rotating his long-time tactician John Kostecki out for Sir Ben Ainslie. Desperate stuff which did them no good whatsoever today. There are plenty of Aussies involved. On the Oracle sailing team is James Spithill, Tom Slingsby and Kyle Langford; while Emirates Team New Zealand have the not-so-secret weapon Glenn Ashby, and Adam Beashel. Ashby has played a crucial role in Emirates Team New Zealand’s dominant performance: A multiple world champion in cats, he’s helped guide the shape of ETNZ’s winning advantages. “Corner Speed” is his mantra and ENTZ have it over the Americans.
