America's Cup 2017: Team NZ looks promising, can only get better - former grinder Craig Monk

  • 28/05/2017
Team New Zealand (Photosport)
Team New Zealand (Photosport)

Former Team New Zealand grinder Craig Monk only sees positive signs for the Kiwis after the first day of the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series in Bermuda.

New Zealand destroyed Team France by more than two minutes in their opening race, but lost to America's Cup holders Team USA by six seconds in their second.

Despite the one loss, Monk told RadioLIVE's Sunday Sport that New Zealand can only get better from here.

"I'm encouraged by what I saw," says Monk.

"We are on the pace and we led most of the race against Oracle and it was our mistake which let them through.

"Oracle are a polished team already and Team New Zealand don't have as many race hours under their belt, so they are only going to get stronger and stronger.

"Not winning the race is not a big deal as they [Team New Zealand] look like the best challenger."

Monk was a member of the New Zealand teams who won the Auld Mug in 1995 and 2000 and knows exactly what it takes to claim the oldest prize in sport.

Craig Monk (Photosport)
Craig Monk (Photosport)

One thing which has changed on the Team New Zealand boat is the use of bikes for grinding, which involves using legs as opposed to your arms, something which Monk thinks will play into the Kiwis hands down the road.

"The more I look at the cycling, the more sense it does make.

"It looks comfortable and those guys are doing it easy which means there heart rates are a little less compared to the guys on the other boats using their arms.

"There is nothing worse after 20 years grinding if somebody flies past you using their legs all of a sudden your arms feel 50 tonnes heavier and that is what I thought happened to Oracle for a moment."

Monk paid his respects to New Zealand skipper Peter Burling for his efforts on the water, and his ability to stay calm under pressure.

Peter Berling (Photosport)
Peter Berling (Photosport)

The former Olympic bronze medallist thinks that Burling's mature temperament out at sea, along with the desire to win will be enough to win back the cup.

"He [Peter Burling] has shown us at Olympic level with pressure. America's Cup pressure is another step up.

"He looks really relaxed sailed with his style.

"There has to be some respect shown by Jimmy Spithill to these guys. This is not the team that raced four ago in San Francisco.

"This is a brand new set of guys, young guys who are hungry who want to win.

"They are only going to get stronger and stronger, but it was great to see that we are not off the pace."

Newshub.