Our hero

The Daily Sail tackles a cappucino with GBR Challenge's new starting helm Andy Beadsworth

Since Beadsworth has been on board - and whether he is responsible for it or not - Ian Walker and other members of the team have said that their 'luck' has improved and things which might not have gone their way in early races, began to do so in subsequent ones.

"I am a firm believer in that you are always better lucky than good!" says Beadsworth. "A little bit of luck is never a bad thing. Also once you get a little bit of success, that builds confidence which lets everyone relax a little bit and then you make more fluid decisions and the whole thing flows a little bit more. Success breeds success so you do have to break the mould. Like yesterday we went out against Stars & Stripes in a completely different frame of mind to how we did the first time - and that's purely a result of knowledge of our performance and knowledge of their performance."

So Beadsworth steps on board 'the race boat' in an America's Cup race, the first time Britain has challenged for the Auld Mug since Fremantle and presumably a moment that will represent the pinnacle of his career - surely that must have been a little nerve racking? "I was quite focussed on all the things that would reduce the anxiety," he admits. "I think it is one of the things that comes with experience. We've had a lot of talks about sports psychology and anxiety and stress and I've sat through all the lectures. And I was obviously quite anxious and nervous, but I felt reasonably comfortable. I know the days I haven't felt anxious and nervous haven't been my best performances. I would say I felt more nervous going into a national match racing final or semi final than I did out there against Prada.

"With the America's Cup one of the things I have managed to do is remove the emotion of winning and losing from how well I think the day has gone or how I/we have performed. Because there is not a whole lot you can do about the result. The only things you can change are things you have a direct influence on." Beadsworth gives the example of one race where they lost but sailed well and another, such as the match against Mascalzone Latino, an underdog, which they won, but won badly. "In the Olympics or One Design racing you have more control over your destiny, because there's you and only one or two guys to take the responsibility. When there are 120 people...the hardest thing is working with in a team..."

As starting helm, Beadsworth deals with the taxing issue of the pre-start and the intense tactical battle that can win or lose a race before it is even started. Once the boat has crossed the line skipper Ian Walker usually takes over the helm within 30 seconds. Once Walker has the wheel Beadsworth slips into a role where he mans the traveller and immerses himself in race strategy and the speed of the boat.

"Because I'm a driver and have driven the tune-up boat, I know what makes the boat go fast, so I have quite a big input into the sail set-up and the boat set-up and I try to help Ian and the trimmers - should we be a little fuller or a little flatter, have we got enough rudder or trim tab angle, talk about the modes of the boat and keep the communications loop quite active. I try to help Ado [Stead] as much as I can by posing 'what if' scenarios. Often I put myself in the position of the other boat - if we did this how would I react if I was on the other boat. It's a great role."