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Chris McKeen / Stuff
The New Zealand team shows their speed during America’s Cup practice.
The New Zealand team is heading towards the easiest America’s Cup victory since Alinghi’s clean sweep in 2003.
That’s the bold prediction of British pundit Magnus Wheatley, who has followed his controversial blog on the UK INEOS team challenge by praising the defenders’ current campaign.
He said the challengers’ hopes that “it’s not over until it’s over” were “nonsense” and compared it to “the Alfa Romeo team in Formula 1 saying they will challenge Mercedes.” Claptrap.”
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Luna Rossa in catch-up mode against the New Zealand team during an America’s Cup practice session.
Wheatley believes Emirates Team New Zealand has already demonstrated its ominous power without even trying, as impressive practice and testing have been transferred to official practice over the past week.
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“The die is ready before we get to the race,” Wheatley wrote on his latest Rule69 blog.
“This is the end of the cycle, not the beginning. In just a few months, we will have a winner and that winner will be the New Zealand team. No doubt. The easiest win since Russ beat the Hula.
And keep in mind that we haven’t seen the best of the New Zealand team yet. They are winning by 30 seconds to more than a minute at cruising pace.
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
First official practice of the Copa América
“They are higher and faster against the wind and lower and faster downwind. You can’t get close to these guys and the ‘TEAM’ is rock solid. It’s what has impressed me the most, they look like a team, they act like a team, they win like a team. They are a machine. An impressive killing machine.
“The New Zealand team will defend the Cup. Put your home in it.”
Wheatley accurately predicted Russell Coutts’ 5-0 beating of his former Team New Zealand squad in 2003 before that Cup match began. Coutts duly delivered himself behind the wheel of the Alinghi as the Kiwi defense literally collapsed with breaks. regular boats and a slower boat that featured the hula hull design.
But he feels like the New Zealand team is rock solid this time.
Wheatley predicts that Italian challenger Luna Rossa will face the New Zealand team in the America’s Cup match next March.
He said Luna Rossa was right to sign Jimmy Spithill and wondered why the British hadn’t done it when Oracle Team USA dropped out of this Cup cycle.
LUNA ROSSA PRADA PIRELLI
Jimmy Spithill has a key role with Italian challenger Luna Rossa.
“Spithill is fickle and I can’t for the life of me understand why the Ineos team didn’t hire him as a backup for Ben (Ainslie),” Wheatley wrote on his Rule69 blog.
“He is the type of person who hauls boats around racetracks out of sheer will and determination. The sailors want to sail for it. The owners realize that what you see is what you get, and he is very competitive.
“Ben and Jimmy had something in San Francisco (for Oracle) and with a no-quibble money campaign, it could have been an easy signing and it would have taken considerable pressure off Ben’s shoulders.
“With Prada, Jimmy is in full drag mode and there is an advantage for the Italians that we haven’t seen in a while.”
American magic
Dean Barker on high alert at the helm of American Magic.
Wheatley expected flashes of brilliance from American Magic, but cast doubt on the hiring of former New Zealand team captain and Japan team captain Dean Barker.
“I’ve always wondered if Dean Barker can really hack it under pressure. I used to unfairly call him ‘Bottler Barker’ because there sure is a mental frailty right at the crucial moment and sadly the team knows it. They can smell it in the water and that’s the problem. “
