1 Second from Victory!

BUGGER!

The dream is over for Team New Zealand.

Their challenge for the America's Cup came to an end this morning when they were beaten by Alinghi in an unbelievable race in Valencia.

Chaos reigned on the final run as the two boats crossed the line in sync but it was Alinghi who were awarded the win by a mere one second.

In what will go down as one of the closest America's Cups in history Alinghi won the best of nine race series 5-2.

Like every race this morning's was an arm wrestle around the entire course. The Kiwis led up the first beat but as they approached the top mark the Swiss pulled off a masterful move pushing the Kiwis out and sneaking round the first mark seven seconds ahead.

Downwind it was all on again as NZL92 come charging back. The Kiwis eased past the Brad Butterworth-skippered Alinghi and around the bottom gate 14 seconds ahead.

The Kiwis were unable to shake the Swiss up the second beat. Again it was all on at the top mark as Butterworth executed his second planned manoeuvre which resulted in a penalty against Team New Zealand.

While it was thought that was game over, the Swiss then botched up a gybe and the Kiwis came back. With just metres to go from the line the Kiwis charged ahead and managed to complete their penalty turn and cross the line alongside Alinghi. But they were just a second too late.
While the Grant Dalton-led Team New Zealand syndicate will feel nothing but disappointment today as time goes they will be able to reflect on what has been a remarkable campaign.
Following the disappointing 2003 defence where they were cleaned out by Alinghi 5-0, Dean Barker and his men have come back and shown why New Zealand have been in every America's Cup match since 1995.

While they made a slow start to the regatta they fought back to finish the round robin competition first. They went on to beat Desafio Espanol 5-2 in the semifinals and then trounce Luna Rossa in the final 5-0.

While many thought the Swiss would have too much pace for the Kiwis in the match, they proved wrong and NZL92 held its own against the much revered SUI100.

This America's Cup came down to sailing. The Alinghi crew headed by Butterworth and featuring New Zealanders Simon Daubney, Murray Jones, Warwick Fleury, Dean Phipps and Rodney Ardern were just too good.

Espanol were set to become the challenger of record.

Full coverage of the America's Cup from nzherald.co.nz/americascup.

America's Cup Update BUT WE STILL LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Team New Zealand's chances of winning the America's Cup now hang by a thread after Alinghi won race six in the regatta this morning. Barker felt 'robbed' after fourth loss ... View race day action

The Swiss now lead the best-of-nine series 4-2 and will etch their name on the auld mug if they win tomorrow's match-point race. The final delta was 28 seconds.

The luckless New Zealanders were in good company.

The All Blacks capped a bleak night for Kiwi sportsmen losing to the Wallabies in Melbourne a few hours before Team New Zealand was defeated.

Thousands of Kiwi fans in Spain watched the rugby in bars before flooding into the cup village on a baking hot day hoping for a victory to continue the party.

And for large parts of the race they had reason to be optimistic. Wind conditions - an 8-9 knot sea breeze from the south east - suited Team New Zealand.

And the Dean Barker skippered NZL92 led much of race six and were looking destined to square the series.
Their crew work was flawless, banishing memories of yesterday's problems when they burst a spinnaker.
But the defining moment came on the second beat when Alinghi skipper and tactician Brad Butterworth - one of six Kiwis on board the Swiss boat - engineered a slick passing move.

He slid past the starboard side of the Kiwi boat after initiating a tacking duel.

It reversed a 14 second deficit at mark one and 11 second deficit at mark two to round mark three 16 seconds ahead. And it was a lead he never relinquished.

Team New Zealand are now running out of options. Crew changes are extremely unlikely.

Team boss Grant Dalton, who sailed again last night, ruled them out earlier in the regatta, if such a scenario unfolded.

However, the team was forced to make one change for race six.

Team New Zealand was forced to make a late crew change in the speed loop of the boat.

Veteran trimmer Grant Loretz succumbed to sickness and Rob Salthouse was chosen as his replacement. Salthouse first sailed with Team New Zealand in 1987 and was a more than adequate replacement. But it was an unsettling change for the crew.

Alinghi gained a slight edge in the pre-start. They pinned Team New Zealand in the dial-up forcing Dean Barker to tack away and then execute a high-risk pass over SUI100's bow.

Alinghi protested vigorously to no avail. However, the Swiss were able to secure the right side of the course and both boats immediately engaged in a close gauge drag race to the the port layline.

Alinghi was able to survive on Team New Zealand's hip in the windward position. But eventually the Kiwis were able to nose ahead before reaching forcing Alinghi to tack away in search of clean air.

The split was the first defining moment of the race. Team New Zealand tacked back and a left hand shift, while boat boats were separated, filled the Kiwi sails and they surged ahead just before the top mark.

Alinghi rounded the mark 14 seconds behind, setting up a fascinating first down wind run.

Team New Zealand has been dogged with spinnaker problems in recent races. But they managed to sail a flawless beat, defending their lead to round the bottom gate 11 seconds ahead.

Alinghi rounded the left gate, the Kiwis the right, forcing a large separation. But Team New Zealand held a one and a half boat-length lead. Alinghi initiated a tacking duel on the second beat and Team New Zealand responded to the pressure, covering them expertly in the leeward position.

However, Butterworth found some extra pressure on his side of the course and cruised past Team New Zealand's starboard side.

Despite gybing left and right, the Swiss were unmoved and held their nerve to the finish line eventually winning race six by 28 seconds.

Article courtesy of - http://www.stuff.co.nz/

No-one Expected This!

It will go down as possibly the greatest race in America's Cup history - at least in the eyes of New Zealanders.

Emirates Team New Zealand mounted a dramatic come-back victory in Valencia this morning to win race three of the regatta.

They now lead the series 2-1.

But it could and probably should have been so different.

Team New Zealand had its foot on Alinghi's throat after the first beat, opening up a staggering and seemingly insurmountable 1min 23s lead at the first mark. But then disaster struck.

Kiwi mid-bowman Richard Meachem was temporarily lost overboard shortly before rounding the second mark.

The crew error at first appeared to be a blip. Meachem dragged himself back on deck via a safety line. But the pivotal moment created chaos when rounding the mark.

Team New Zealand's spinnaker was caught in a genoa block and while the Kiwis were fighting to cut a genoa sheet to free it, Alinghi charged up the left side of the course and unbelievably lead by 15 seconds at mark three.

It was an incredible reversal of fortunes and the match appeared over.
But the drama was far from over.

Alinghi held a 100 metres lead so Team New Zealand was forced to gamble and jibe away, hoping to discover a magic puff of wind on the left side of the course.

With only minutes left the wind, which had oscillated all day, filled their sails and they charged past Alinghi eventually winning by 25 seconds.
Alinghi was shell shocked.

There was no other way to react.

And after losing in such dramatic fashion it remains uncertain whether they can drag themselves back into this regatta.

The race nearly didn't start.

Wind conditions were light but extremely shifty and race official Peter Reggio delayed the start by two hours and then waited until the last minute possible to start proceedings.

Team New Zealand appeared to have made a hash of the start with Alinghi immediately gaining a handy two boat-length lead off the line.

But Team New Zealand's decision to forego speed off the line to protect the right paid massive dividends. They hooked into a huge right wind shift opening up a 300 metre lead.

Team New Zealand then defended on the first downwind run but then Meachem lost his balance and the Kiwis crumbled.

The team redeemed themselves though, in classic fashion and now need only three more victories to bring the auld mug home.

Article courtesy of www.stuff.co.nz

Team NZ evens America's Cup series!!!

REPORT FROM VALENZIA

Swiss holder Alinghi, as it did in Auckland in 2003, threatened to sail away with the Cup yesterday by winning race one and then dominated much of this morning's re-match.

But Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker conjured a gritty fight-back on the final upwind beat after trailing by 100 metres on the previous run.
By doing so he answered his critics here in Spain who have questioned his mental strength when under pressure. And victory also banished any doubts over NZL92's boat speed.

That was not the case yesterday when Team New Zealand ominously lost to SUI100 by 32 seconds.

But they asked the fans to "keep-the-faith" and repaid it by squaring the best-of-nine series.

The blood-and-guts match race was action packed from the start.

Three protest flags were flown but no penalties awarded. Just like yesterday, Team New Zealand led off the line in the windward position but, before they could block Alinghi to the layline, were forced to tack away, handing the advantage to the Swiss. SUI100 held an ominous three boat-length 20 second lead at mark one and the race appeared over for the Kiwis. However, by mark two they had carved six seconds out of the deficit and the vital moment came just minutes before rounding the final mark.

Alinghi made a small but crucial mistake deciding not to cover Team New Zealand, which had initiated a tacking duel. And they sailed into some extra pressure and surged in front, rounding the third mark 15 seconds in front. It was a tense run home with Butterworth throwing several jibes. But he failed to force an error in the relatively calm conditions.

A 9-11 knot sea breeze from the south east suited the way the Kiwis have configured NZL92 and the race was not without controversy. Alinghi's master tactician Brad Butterworth was incensed with the spectator fleet encroaching on the race course and the former Kiwi sailor's salty language could be heard over the live broadcast. But in reality the chop they caused had little impact on the final result.

Both teams will enjoy a lay day tomorrow and racing resumes on Wednesday.

Article courtesy off www.stuff.co.nz

Let's Bring It Home

Well this weekend is a HUGE Weekend for New Zealand Sport (mind you virtually all weekends are huge weekends for New Zealand sport) :o)

This is a biggie with the Netball Finals tonight, the Warriors also tonight, and tomorrow night the first Test of the Tri-Nations for the All Blacks against South Africa and then the BIGGIE - Team New Zealand vs Alinghi in the first match race for the AMERICA'S CUP!

The whole of New Zealand (all 4 million of us) are right behind you and so so very proud - so lets BRING IT HOME!!!

Cough, Cough, Splutter, Splutter

Well I am now back at work after having been felled by the most horrid cold/flu thingie I have had in a l-o-n-g time. So have spent most of the last 3/4 days in bed - sneezing, coughing and generally feeling pretty ghastly.

One good thing though is that I did get to stay up late and watch THE AMERICA'S CUP and TEAM NEW ZEALAND sailing into the Semi-Final round of the Louis Vuitton Cup in second place - only one point behind BMW Oracle. All previous points however get erased in the semi final and it is back to game on. So GOOD LUCK Team New Zealand we are all behind you 100%.

LET'S BRING BACK THE CUP!