 As
a new team to the America’s Cup, Shosholoza has much in
common with Italy’s +39, along with several important
distinctions. Both surprised the Cup world when they became
the first two challengers to join BMW ORACLE Racing and the
Defender, Alinghi, in the 32nd America’s Cup. Now, as
fledgling challengers, both teams are climbing the steep
learning curve of the America’s Cup, a sport that rewards
experience like no other. One common approach the two teams
have taken to working their way up the ladder is to turn to
British sailors for some help. (©ACM(2005)/Photo:©
Dr Peter Goldman)
+39 went in this direction immediately,
signing Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy to lead the team.
Meanwhile, Shosholoza, after first attempting to run on
homegrown talent, has now enlisted British match racer Chris
Law, first as a coach, and now as helmsman for the
Malmö-Skåne Acts. Law has brought a new level of confidence
to the crew, and his stated goal for this Act is take at
least three victories, and possibly five. Yesterday’s
triumph over the Swedes suddenly makes that lofty ambition
look very realistic.
“Having Chris on board has helped the crew
immensely,” said crew member Mark Sadler after the first day
of racing. “Whenever a new guy comes on the boat we all
learn a lot. We’re still mostly South African, and I’m sure
we’ll be like that until the end.”
Olympic expertise
On +39, Iain Percy has brought in former GBR
Challenge skipper Ian Walker to call tactics for him in
Malmo and Trapani. He is grateful for the steadying
influence that Walker brings to the crew. “He’s good, he’s
experienced,” nods Percy. “He takes pressure off me. Because
we have so much inexperience in the team, I have to take a
lot of the weight. It helps having someone who can take that
pressure off. I’ve learnt in America’s Cup racing that you
have to respect the division of labour, and you have to have
someone you can trust to do the job. Ian is that man at the
moment.”
Shosholoza has been the first of any team to
build a new boat to the Version 5 configuration, and while
it caused them unending problems in Valencia earlier this
summer, the boat finally appears to giving them the sort of
speed that can lift them up the rankings. Meanwhile, +39
continue to struggle with an old boat, the originally twin-ruddered
BeHappy. But Percy says he’s happy to be learning the trade
in an older hull. “We don’t necessarily deserve an Alinghi-type
boat yet. We’ve got to improve ourselves first. When we’ve
put in a hard winter’s training perhaps we’ll be worthy of a
new boat. Success comes from putting lots of elements
together.”
- Andy Rice / Peter Rusch
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