As Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia eyeball each other on the America's Cup startline, each will be aware whoever blink first may be chasing the others around the Barcelona shoreline.
If the Kiwis have a perceived weakness, it has traditionally been in the pre-start, but once they have an advantage oncourse, they have proved very hard to beat. That will be the focus for the British, helmed by Sir Ben Ainslie and Dylan Fletcher, when their first-to-seven series for the 'Auld Mug' begins on Sunday (NZ time).
"We’ve been watching pretty closely what Ben, Dylan and the team have been up to, trying to study their moves and countermoves," said Team NZ helmsman Nathan Outteridge. "I’m sure they will be trying to guess what we’re going to do come tomorrow as well.
"I think what we’ve seen in the racing is these boats are incredibly close in terms of performance and the start is going to be really critical, and both teams are going to put a lot of effort into their starting execution. I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow."
The two rivals have already raced twice during the challenger round robin stages, with the British sailing unopposed around the course for victory, while the Kiwis frantically repaired their damaged boat, after a crane accident.
Upon returning to the water, Team NZ were way too strong for Britannia in their return contest, although that was more than a month ago now.
After bowing to the the Brits in the challenger final, Luna Rossa helmsman Jimmy Spithill remarked they had "out-learned" the other contenders.
"From where they started until now, they made the biggest progress," he said. "The British are peaking at the right time."
Britannia trimmer Bleddyn Mon has hinted they still have "a few things up our sleeve", while the Kiwis won't have been idle during over the past month, since topping the round robin table.
"I think the intrigue of the America's Cup is that you don't really know until you line up for the first start, but we’re really happy with the package that we’ve put together and I’m sure the British will be really happy with the package that they’ve put together," said Team NZ helmsman Peter Burling.
"Two different looking boats, but probably going reasonably similar speeds and it will make for an awesome competition."
If America's Cup history has shown anything, it is you can't assume anything. In 2003, New Zealand were supposed to have the fastest boat by far, but lost the trophy to Alinghi, after almost sinking in the opening race, breaking a mast during race four and then a spinnaker pole in race five, as they were swept by the Swiss.
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