My New Zealand Story: Cup Magic by Susan Battye.
Scholastic NZ, 2013.
Reviewer Bob Docherty
June 10 2013
The high standards made by this series are maintained in this insightful look at the America’s Cup at San Diego in 1995 in which the immortal words “the America’s Cup is now New Zealand’s Cup” were spoken on air by Peter Montgomery.
It wasn’t that easy though. The story of that campaign is told through the eyes of 12 year old Mike Lucas whose parents were behind the scene making the sails for NZ 32 and NZ 38.
All the skullduggery and subterfuge that have been the hallmark of the America’s Cup regatta are exposed here, particularly when a journalist after watching part of the race by Black Magic against the previous NZ contender NZ 20, called the NZ boat a dog with no chance.
All team members of this campaign are given a mention particular Christchurch woman Leslie Egnot who all but beat Dennis Connor with an all women crew.
The Red sock campaign to buy Team NZ another sail is highlighted and the fact that Sir Peter Blake was an avid Scrabble fan.
Told in diary form it covers all the races in the Louis Vuitton Cup and the 5-0 thrashing of Dennis Conner in the final.
Primary/intermediate in appeal but everybody will get something from this novel about a great chapter in NZ sporting life.
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