Team New Zealand's design staff are already being targeted by rival syndicates as the race heats up to secure key talent off the water. The 35th America's Cup match is approaching crunch time this weekend, when racing resumes on the Great Sound following a five-day break. The Herald understands Emirates Team New Zealand's technical director Dan Bernasconi has been approached by several syndicates, including British team Ben Ainslie Racing. AdvertisementAinslie, who was dispatched from the challenger semifinals by Team NZ, was full of praise for the "aggressive" design approach of the Kiwi team. Despite wanting to keep his team together, Bernasconi accepts it is inevitable some of the team's intellectual property will walk out the door over the next America's Cup cycle.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 21, 2017 02:58 UTC