KEY POINTS:
Alone at Team New Zealand's base in the Viaduct Harbour, John Quarterman could see the champagne flowing in Valencia, could almost taste the bubbles on his tongue.
"But that's as far as my celebrations went," says Mr Quarterman, the last man standing at the America's Cup finalists' home base in Auckland.
It's a lonely job, he says, but someone's got to do it to keep the New Zealand challenge penny wise, watered and well on track to bring the Auld Mug back.
For the past three months, since the rest of Emirates Team New Zealand packed up and shipped off to Spain, Mr Quarterman has been the lone hand at the vast silver shed on what was once Syndicate Row.
"It was pretty hard watching the celebrations. It's pretty lonely on your own," he says. "At least I was spared the hangover."
Mr Quarterman is the team's accountant. In the past few months his role has been extended to team gopher on the other side of the world.
"We still needed the base, and there are always bits and pieces that need to be retrieved, packed and sent over to the team," he says.
One of the essential needs of the team has been bottled New Zealand water - the sailing crew can't get enough of it. "It's pretty thirsty work on those boats," Mr Quarterman says.
On race days, he would rise at 1am to cheer his teammates on the television screen, then grab a quick nap before coming to the base for his 8am to 6pm shift.
He keeps up with the play in Valencia, where it's 10 hours behind Auckland, through daily texts and emails.
At the Viaduct, his neighbours are boatbuilders and apartment dwellers. Keeping him company in the yard is NZL20, the red sled from New Zealand's 1992 America's Cup challenge.
Although it has been quiet, with the odd tourist knocking on the base door, Mr Quarterman is revelling in his first America's Cup experience.
"I'm not really a sailor but I went out on our boats half a dozen times when they were here in Auckland, and it was quite a thrill.
"I'm not a big guy, but a couple of times I found myself grinding next to Rob Waddell - I had to pinch myself that it was really happening."
Next Sunday, Mr Quarterman will be rewarded for his patience and finally forsake the base for Valencia, joining the rest of the 110-strong team for the America's Cup match starting on June 24 (NZT) .
"I'm really looking forward to it - not just for the racing, but the weather. It was 25 degrees there yesterday."
