America’s Cup Countdown - # 3

×

1 of 2

Americas Cup

© Lloyd Images

Americas Cup

×

2 of 2

Americas Cup

© Lloyd Images

Americas Cup

LandRover BAR skippered by Ben Ainslie shown here racing in action against Emirates Team New Zealand who went own to win 5-1 and progress into the next round. The 35th America's Cup Challenger Playoffs Semi-finals. June 8. 2017 on Bermuda's Great Sound

Things have changed dramatically in Bermuda since I last wrote back in March. The distinctly British weather is definitely less of a theme and whilst the winds are about as unpredictable as the America’s Cup racing we’ve had to date, you can pretty much guarantee that a bikini will feature somewhere each day. Rafa, our nearly two year old (and don’t the tantrums show it) son dips in and out of the hotel pool like a yo-yo; yesterday even saw a fully clothed entry – much to my dismay and cueing a quick life save effort on our part. Nick, when he gets back

from a day’s sailing, is doing his best to encourage Rafa to follow in his footsteps as a fearless adrenaline junkie and the expensive pool furniture is often to be found piled high to form a make-shift diving board so that the little deviant can hurl himself into the deep end from perilous heights. Again, much to my dismay (and that of the hotel staff too I imagine).  

But our domestic kamikaze efforts don’t come anywhere near the action that we’ve seen so far in the America’s Cup competition itself, which has been pretty eventful. We are now over a week and a half into the racing and as we anticipated, the Bermuda Great Sound is proving quite a stadium. Landrover BAR (the British team that Nick represents) has had successes out there as well as some hiccoughs – the guys themselves are in amazing shape both physically and tactically, nailing the pre-starts and sailing themselves out of some pretty sticky situations (the final defeat of Team France in the round robin competition springing to mind, where I almost had kittens as the boys crossed the line marginally ahead of their European rivals) but there’s no denying that the GBR race boat is not currently looking like the best in the fleet and we struggle when the breeze drops below 10 knots.

But that’s what makes the America’s Cup different after all and why it’s known (not only as the oldest Sporting Trophy in the World) but also as the marine version of Formula One  – being as it is not only about the sailing but also about the design of the boats involved and pushing those designs to the limit in order to maximise the speed of the boat in whatever conditions.

That said, I’m writing this after an epic day out on the water, watching all four remaining challengers (the Japanese, the Swedes, the Kiwis and us) tearing around the course in the windiest conditions we’ve seen, reaching speeds of nearly 50 knots and all sustaining some damage to their boats. Fortunately for us, the worst we suffered was a rip in the material covering the fairing at the back of the boat. Less fortunately for Team New Zealand they broke their wing (the aeroplane style rigid sail) initially and then – far more dramatically – capsized in the final race of the day. We’re still waiting to hear the extent of the full damage done but most importantly, no one was hurt.

This upset for the Kiwis means that, whilst still the underdogs, GBR remains firmly in the race to meet the Cup holders, Team Oracle, in the Final. Fingers crossed we can pull something fantastic and unprecedented out of the bag to get us there; Sir Ben after all has built a name for himself as King of the Comeback. (but... see over - editor)

In more mundane news, life as a WAG continues and when I do manage to palm Rafa off on some poor unsuspecting friends, or the local nursery, there is much socialising to be had. One particular night to remember was a cook-off competition we attended at The Commissioner’s House at Royal Naval Dockyard. Sounds random but there is a connection in their somewhere…

Landrover BAR has been determined from the outset that the Team will leave a sustainable legacy here in Bermuda once the Cup is over and as well as installing solar panels that will continue to serve the island long after the base has been dismantled, has also joined in the local fight to protect the wildlife below the surface of the Ocean on which RITA (our race boat) flies. The main target of our efforts and the wreaker of havoc on the reef is the rather attractive but poisonous Lionfish! This cook off then was not your standard Masterchef – although it did involve some celebrity names – but a challenge for the chefs involved (each associated with one of the America’s Cup teams) to wow the judges by creating top end dishes using Lionfish as the main ingredients.

We sampled Lionfish ceviche, Lionfish curry and even Lionfish and chips, complete with mushy peas and served in Bermudan newspaper cones. It’s safe to say that there wasn’t much room left for dessert… which is probably a good thing as I’m not sure Lionfish sorbet would be that appetising. The chef cooking for the Brits was Chris Kenny, who is the current Head Chef on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker island and who was also victorious on the night in question; taking home the prize of a cash donation to the charity of his choice – you can always rely on fish and chips to win the hearts of the crowd.  

It’s crazy to think that in a few days all this excitement both on and off the water could be over and we may be heading back to Blighty – no bad thing as there’s no place like home and when you realise that three of your little chap’s first words were “Jet ski”, “Hot tub” and “Houmous” it is probably time to get back to some form of reality. But there’ll be some regret if we don’t go all the way this time around in the competition because there’s definitely a feeling in Bermuda right now that the action and atmosphere are only going to build from here.

More personally, I’ll be rather sad to leave the beach lifestyle that we’ve grown to love, even if the novelty of living in a hotel wore off about four months ago. And whilst I feel as excited to see my kitchen as Rafa will be when he sees a tractor for the first time in seven months, I will miss the simplicity of life on this tiny island. So rest assured that until we hop on that flight there will be a few more sun-bleached afternoons on the pink sand beaches, terrifying moments at the pool and rum swizzles to calm my nerves to be had.  

They think it’s all over….it is now!

Regrettably, as valiant as the British Team’s efforts were, the 35th America’s Cup was not to be ours. As I write this from my kitchen in Devon no less, the Kiwis and Americans are currently battling it out on the race course and New Zealand (our conquerors and subsequently also victors over the Swedes in the Louis Vuitton qualifiers) are looking as strong as ever and are speeding towards being 3-0 up in the final showdown.

On the day we were knocked out, before we all got sloshed on too much Nyetimber (now there’s a sponsor of which I definitely approve), Ben gave a speech in which he promised that Landrover BAR will be back for another attempt for the Cup in the 36th competition – there’s no deterring Sir Ainslie once he’s got his heart set on something it would seem. So perhaps there’ll be a stint in Auckland for us over the next few years – if things continue in the Kiwis favour – which all things considered I suppose, wouldn’t be too awful.

First published By The Dart Magazine July 2017

Tags