Champagne is flowing at Tauranga's Yacht Club to celebrate the America's Cup win.
Fans of all ages gathered at the yacht club this morning to watch Team NZ and Oracle in the race to seven series.
Club commodore Nick Wrinch said he was still in shock to see Team NZ win the race.
"It is great, I am so impressed."
He described racing this morning as "clinical".
"He did not win the start but they showed that they could go so fast down wind. He took control of the match and won it."
Wrinch said it was great to see the club so full.
"It is wonderful, so fantastic."
Wrinch said did not know when Burling would be back at the Tauranga Yacht Club but the welcome would be warm.
"I am sure we will be having something like a little welcome home."
He said he was bursting with pride to watch Tauranga's Peter Burling as helmsman.
"He is our boy. We are very proud, so proud.
"My heart is still beating. I cannot believe what I just saw."
Tauranga fan Clare Bailey woke up early to watch the America's Cup race this morning.
Mrs Bailey was with her father Ivor Drought, who had his eyes glued to the big screen.
"His dad Burt was a founding member of the yacht club in South Hampton, England," she said.
"It would have been his dad's 106th birthday today."
Mrs Bailey's son also sailed in Tauranga. "We moved here from Taupo for his sailing."
Mrs Bailey's mother was wearing a black and white New Zealand flag in support of Peter Burling's team.
"It's coming home, it's coming home," she chanted.
Her sister in law and brother had brought their 6-week old baby to watch the game.
Mrs Bailey said her family had watched the cup races all the way through.
"It is a fantastic day, magic for the club," said club treasurer Gary Smith.
He remembers when Peter Burling first came sailing at the club. "He was involved in the learn to sail programme."
"He always comes down to the club and joins in when he is here."
Mr Smith said he helped a young Burling with getting to know his sailing rules. "Although I think he ended up teaching me," he laughed.
He watched Burling grow up through the club.
"I watched his progression to Olympic sailing to here. It is another step in where he is going.
"I think in the next election it should be Pete for PM."
Mr Smith said he could see Burling was a bit nervous.
"You could feel the pressure, the anticipation.
"He had it all under control. He went out at the first jibe. Then that speed, that was amazing performance."
He said it was a sense of relief to watch Team NZ win the race.
"It was fantastic to see that result."
The crowd of more than 100 fans at Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club leaped into applause early in the day as their hero appeared on screen to talk before the race.
"We are just going to out the finishing touches on it now," said Burling said.
The room filled with cheers when the boats crosses the start line. And grew, and grew.
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