localmatters.co.nz
July 5, 2017
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Inside this issue Have your say on Dynamic Lanes page 6
New schemes to help our kids page 16
Andy Maloney raises the America’s Cup high last week. Photo courtesy Emirates Team New Zealand.
Family insights into America’s Cup success
America’s Cup racing was keenly watched in many homes on the Hibiscus Coast – but the interest was perhaps most intense in the home of Team New Zealand sailor Andy Maloney’s parents, in Arkles Bay. Andy’s mother, Loretta, is a relieving teacher at two Whangaparaoa schools and followed her son’s progress by watching the races live on TV with friends in Arkles Bay as well as at Murray’s Bay Sailing Club and, for the last few races, at the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron. As she watched, friends in
Bermuda sent her texts and photos to capture some of the atmosphere. The family lives and breathes sailing and Andy, now 27, grew up on his parents’ 44ft yacht in Kerikeri. His first boat was an Optimist, which was kept on board. His father Jim gave sailing lessons to the local children, and is now a professional coach. Jim was in Europe during the America’s Cup and had to watch the final race in an airport in Germany. “I almost missed the plane, holding on to see them get over the line,” he says. Andy’s sister Alex is a champion
sailor and won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. Older brother Jimmy, also a keen sailor, is a police officer in Queenstown. The whole family hopes to come together to celebrate when the victorious team returns this week with the Cup. Loretta and Jim say it was amazing to see how calm and confident the whole team was, right from the start. “They left NZ with a quiet confidence, and built on that,” Jim says. “They are a young crew, but very experienced competitive sailors who thrive on the
pressure of close racing.” Loretta says that the team members grew up sailing against each other, which created a real respect and trust. “They are mates,” she says. “They’ve sailed since they were 10, 11 or 12 years old, saw each other every weekend at regattas, and later trained together for competitions such as the Youth America’s Cup.” They were mentored along the way by sailors such as Team NZ skipper Glenn Ashby. Innovation in design and boat building continued page 2
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