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Is it a sign that the race is over before it has even started, or is it the great game of foxing in the America’s Cup?
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The three challenging groups withdrew from the first full day of official practice races. Source: 1 NEWS
Today was meant to be the first full day of official practice races, but all three challengers were hiding in their sheds, with only the New Zealand team in the water.
The reasons behind the challenger’s decision to keep his boats dry today are unknown. However, sailing commentator Chris Steele says it is likely due to a last-ditch effort to get his boats up to speed ahead of the Christmas regatta.
“If it’s not within 20-30 more seconds, it’s probably not a good sign. So yeah, I think, like I said, it’s about trying to get the boat out and make some modifications before next week, when they line up for the first official race, ”said Steele.
When it comes to the absence of challengers, there are two schools of thought in the America’s Cup quarters: challengers are scared by what the champions show or are they hiding something.
Also an expert in the America’s Cup, Richard Gladwell, believes that if any team has something to contain it is the New Zealand team.
“I mean, do you think they are showing secrets from the New Zealand team? Well, I think the New Zealand team has a lot more to offer in terms of what the rivals have in terms of secrecy.”
With the lack of company in the water, the New Zealand team was forced to use their own chase boat as a shadow challenger, meaning that today’s practice session was not a Sunday ride.
“They are opposed by a pursuit boat, so you know they have opposition there. It’s not like you’re sailing across the country and kissing your sister. And it was much more difficult than what we saw with the challengers in the last two days, ”said Gladwell.
Steele says that although there is just over a month until the Prada Cup begins, challengers will have plenty of time to prepare their boats.
“A lot of things can change in a week if they have the team,” he said.
“All these guys would have spent thousands of hours in the simulators developing new technology to try to make these ships faster and a lot of those elements will be in the process of construction right now.
“So things like new foils, new sails will come out, which will add to big profits on the race track. So we haven’t seen everything for sure. There will definitely be much more to come.“
