for me is they're such a tiny country. New Zealand has barely a tenth as many people as the population of California, let alone the US. And has to reach to come up with the resources to compete in something like this. And they're going up against the 5th richest guy in the world who can throw whatever it takes at it ... and he turns around and buys some of the technology that the Kiwis came up with. It's all fair, but I tend to root for the underdog, especially when it involves a country with people as wonderful as New Zealand has. When I was there in 1984 they had just won the Whitbread Race, and won EIGHT Olympic gold medals. If equivalent-sized Maine/NH/VT wins a gold medal in 30 years we think it's special.

In any event, great series as you say. Unbelievable really.

Best regards,
Max