INDEPENDENT NEWS

New Zealand Herald Newspaper

Published: Fri 3 Mar 2000 09:00 AM
America’s Cup Win - Russell Coutts - Spectator Crew - Human Gridlock - Auckland Parade - Prada’s Tax - Blind Man’s Cup - Derek Tremain - Anzac Alliance - Turoa Recievership - Doctor’s Trial - French Terrorists - Editorial: America’s Cup
AMERICA’S CUP WIN: As half of Auckland and beyond were drawn to worship at the waterfront yesterday, there should have been a warning: Danger, Sensory Overload. Victory was in the air, and it could be seen, heard, smelled, touched and tasted.
RUSSELL COUTTS: Victorious Black Magic skipper Russell Coutts is looking forward to defending the America's Cup for at least a quarter of a century - and the first challenge is already in for the next regatta barely 21/2 years away. As Black Magic NZL60 crossed the line to win the fifth consecutive race of the finals series and secure New Zealand's hold on the cup, the club behind the unsuccessful Prada bid issued its challenge for the next cup competition, which will begin in October 2002.
SPECTATOR CREW: On board the water taxi, bobbing in among the scores of other small spectator craft, the marine radio crackles out: "Hi, this is our last communication before the noise drowns us out ..." He's not wrong. A few seconds later cannon boom and the mumble from the crowds lining the wharves becomes a roar.
HUMAN GRIDLOCK: The thousands who turned out to welcome victor and vanquished at the waterfront were caught in human gridlock at the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, but the fifth and final race in the America's Cup brought the whole country to a standstill as well. From Balclutha to the Bay of Islands, people in their hundreds of thousands dodged daily duties to watch the last hours of the successful defence.
AUCKLAND PARADE: Auckland will toast the success of Team New Zealand and hopefully give a gracious farewell to Prada in a colourful sea of ticker-tape down Queen St tomorrow. Hundreds of thousands of adoring fans are expected to turn out for a repeat spectacle of 1995 when Team New Zealand returned from San Diego with the coveted America's Cup.
PRADA’S TAX: Prada had hoisted the white flag before the last race in the America's Cup series, it emerged in Parliament yesterday. Finance Minister Michael Cullen revealed that a Prada representative had visited him this week to ask about tax arrangements for the team's 2003 challenge.
BLIND MAN’S CUP: Few of Team New Zealand's supporting army could match the dedication of one unseen - and unseeing - fan. Each race day, the middle-aged blind man and his wife drove to the waterfront in their campervan to be part of the frenzied America's Cup send-off.
DEREK TREMAIN: Before they wrote the last chapter in the defence of the America's Cup yesterday Team New Zealand had a sad and solemn duty to discharge. The two black boats hove to under grey skies to form a guard of honour on the Hauraki Gulf, and tender boat driver Selwyn Ross scattered the ashes of shore crew member Derek Tremain into the waters off Rangitoto.
ANZAC ALLIANCE: Sydney, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has told Helen Clark that New Zealand needs to make the "strongest possible" defence commitment to the Anzac alliance. New Zealand was a sovereign nation making its own decisions and Australia accepted that.
TUROA RECIEVERSHIP: A dark cloud is again hanging over Ohakune, with the Turoa Ski Resort going into receivership yesterday after financial difficulties caused by Mt Ruapehu eruptions and warm winters. Receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers was quick to assure resort staff and potential customers that it would be business as usual. No redundancies were planned.
DOCTOR’S TRIAL: An Auckland obstetrician accused of providing inadequate care to a woman whose baby was stillborn says the parents never expressed any concern about treatment. Dr Lynda Batcheler is charged with five breaches of the Medical Practitioners Act.
FRENCH TERRORISTS: The two French terrorists who helped to sink the Rainbow Warrior have scored a victory in the New Zealand courts, preventing videotape of their guilty pleas being made public. Auckland barrister Colin Amery had applied for the video of the 1985 court appearance, saying he wanted the right to "ventilate" the historic moment.
EDITORIAL: AMERICA’S CUP: To win the America's Cup was an achievement to rank with Everest. To defend the cup successfully and be the first outside the United States to do so, feels almost like putting another man on the moon. And to win it yesterday with a new young helmsman for the fifth race gives a signal to the sailing world that there is more where Team New Zealand came from. This has been a carnival the country will never forget, and with parades and celebrations planned near and far, it could go on for a good while yet.
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