KEY POINTS:
Here is a further selection of Your Views:
Gerald, (Zurich, Switzerland)
The view here in Switzerland is that certainly Alinghi has won the Cup, but that we are therefore not the world's sailing nation. The winner here is New Zealand: You got the best in this discipline and the performance of the New Zealanders, the Team New Zealand as well as the appearance in Valencia was great. Great sportmanship, great fans - New Zealand left a fantastic 'visitor's card' in Europe, has got lots of admirers and your fans were fantastic and fair. Thanks for an unforgettable and historic event and all my respect!
Florida, USA
I feel the score didn't reflect the racing. Team NZ was awesome! They didn't win the America's Cup but they proved themselves time and again - they'll get it next time! Give them a parade, make them feel proud, (they did win the LV cup!)support them, use them as a vehicle to market New Zealand and provide avenues for other up and coming New Zealand sailors. (Think of all those young sailors aspiring to be Dean Barker and crew). Remind them with your comments that New Zealand is proud of them so they won't become disheartened and crossover to the "dark side" where Brad and his buddy's on Alinghi are motivated by greed and a lack of respect for a great country. Team NZ - I am proud of you! It was the best yacht racing I have ever watched!
Ani Ahitapu
"Who's the best? - It was that close a whisker when in Valencia the 7th race played out for the America's Cup. Behind in the final leg and with a penalty imposed on them things looked grim for Team NZ, then the pendulum swung in their favour, the breeze dropped on Alinghi's side, Team NZ seized their chance and then led, however, "the penalty" had to be paid that heart stopping moment as the boat was swinging around and building up speed, Alinghi edged forward and took the race in a split second.
Summing up, Brad Butterworth to his credit has had many years of experience and victories however in these series he has had a dual on his hand. Team NZ, skippered by Dean Baker a protégé of Russell Coutts. Dean's tutelage from Russell, combined with his own experience and style, has seen him in each race cool & unflappable, alongside him his manager, Grant Dalton a man of few words yet a tower of strength. Each crew member a valuable part of this team. Pulling together just like the All Blacks and the Silver Ferns. Team NZ, you've won my respect and etched a place in my heart.
you've done us proud as a nation come home "haere mai haere mai haere mai" welcome welcome welcome.
Canada
The best team won, the best boat lost. It grieves me to say it but the Alinghi bunch outsailed the Kiwis. Have another go; the world (outside Valencia and Switzerland) was very supportive of Team NZ. One thing: I read very little of Bertinelli's enormous generosity to the team when it was in dire financial straits. Good luck next time.
Roli, Swiss
What does it take to be a New Zealander? Just to be born there? And to be a bad loser? Whats wrong with you guys? You small your self really! Do it next time with the chines, so you win against a real big one!
Sally (Melbourne)
I'm an Aussie and I can't believe the bagging your team is getting by the general NZ populace. I thought your team were magnificent and I truly enjoyed the spectacle. Edge of seat entertainment and the score (5-2) does not truly reflect the closeness of the competition. Brilliant and enthralling entertainment (which is what sports is all about). Give your boys a welcome homecoming and stand proud New Zealand. While I'm at it, stop bagging us Aussies all the time. We're not that bad (are we)?
Pete (New Jersey, USA)
Brad Butterworth cannot ever be considered NZ's best sportsman while he represents the competition.
Carole (Basel, Switzerland)
Oh dear Kiwis, when I read your comments here in Switzerland, where this victory over Team New Zealand (and not New Zealand itself!) is just a nice little thing to have and where even if Roger will win Wimbledon for the 6th time no part of the Matterhorn starts to shake.
I must say to all of you... it's just a sport. It is nice that one likes he/her country. But not because some a Swiss tennis player rules or because kiwis are best sailors of the world. It's because we do well as a nation. Watch out that the rest of the world, doesn't think you identify yourselves with a bunch of wet and cool men. Are there women in NZL? Best regards, I would give you the cup back, as soon as I hear other stuff than just rugby or sailing referred to your country. Best regards from an even smaller country, that has lots of money but almost no good sailors.
Joerg (USA)
Very sad to read some of the comments, in particular from some kiwis who simply are bad losers. I was in Auckland just before the last America's Cup, what a superb location and ambience. Everyone was excited and positive and some how almost certain that the cup will remain in NZ. I visited Auckland again a few months later - after the cup was lost - and it was rather sad to see how the mood had changed. When entering NZ, the custom official made a rather sad joke when I showed my Swiss passport. A taxi driver refused (!) to drive us, when he spotted that we were Swiss (one of my friends was wearing a UBS polo shirt/ not Alinghi to be clear). Here is my suggestion; win the cup back, change the rules, go back to boring rules to make sure the cup stays forever in Auckland. at the same time make sure that all so called kiwis are true kiwis, check their background and not just for the America's Cup, but also including rugby, etc. Wake up kiwis, it's 2007 and it is just a sport.
Hope to see you in 2009 in Valencia or elsewhere in Europe. I am sure it will be another great event, with people from all over the world.
Ron
I am currently living in New York. As a Kiwi it saddens me that anyone can doubt the good that the America's Cup does for our country. We had a Team that on its day was quite not good enough but one that has done us all proud. Grant Dean and team what an effort. We must challenge again with the full support of the Govt. if that is what it takes. Tell me how much we spend as a country promoting ourselves overseas much of it wasted. Let's think beyond our borders and show the world who we really are as a country. When I return I want to go back to a lively vibrant place that takes risks on the world stage and not some backwater in the south pacific. Accept and take the chance to keep going.
Sam Jones
I think the bitterness towards Butterworth and Coutts et al is a little unwarranted. They won us the cup, defended it and were then offered enough money to set their families up for life. Fair play to them. Good work Alinghi on the win and good work on TNZ and the government on committing to give it another nudge.
Nila
Butterworth may be one of the greatest sailors/tactitian ever!, but he is NOT a New Zealander.
Ecky Ropohl
Alinghi won that decisive last race even if by a second or two. But the NZ Kiwis certainly didn't deserve to have lost!
Central California Coast
New Zealand stop crying, you didn't win but you did finish ahead of us (USA). You have a great country, sailing and you had more NZers on winning boat than the Swiss. Besides, at least you don't have George Bush as your so called president!
D Gee
The series was more exciting than the Tri-Nations because Barker and Co were the big underdogs. My 12-year-old, born and bred in England is so proud to wear his Team NZ top - even after the 5-2 series loss. He is hopefully a tennis star for the future. He thought that Barker & Co were pretty cool and showed much humility when winning or losing. New Zealander's represent New Zealand. If my son makes it, because of dual nationality, he can choose. Representing any other country would make absolutely no sense to him.
Malcolm (Mt Eden)
Should the America's Cup be re-named, "Ernesto's Cup"?
Alex Crew
A great series, but the wrong team won! Good luck Grant in the 33rd America's Cup, wish we Yanks could put together a team other than Oracle! Bring back Dennis!
Kris (Auckland)
To say that how the Alinghi boss and crew treated Team NZ is cruel is an understatement. This was bad sportsmanship by any means and was highly unfair as NZ would never have treated them like this. Ernesto may have all the luxuries and money in the world but he needs to learn fairness and to treat others with respect as we are humans not objects who do have feelings and to say that it seems to be rubbing off on his team is an understatement.
Fatima (Auckland)
To those people who whinge about 10 million investment into Team NZ: please read the economic report from the Cup (2003-2007) before making uneducated comments. The Government knows really well that this is an investment, which will have a great return, as it did in 2003-2007. I hope the Governed invests even more, based on the economic return this brings and from which we ALL benefit. As for Brad Butterworth being the best sports person in NZ: he is absolutely not. He is a good tactician, but he works for the highest bidder, not for NZ. His manners and language quite frankly are offensive to anyone, let alone a true sportsman/sportswoman. I just read that his Mother 'is proud of him' - Mother's love i guess knows no reason :-)
Ian Williamson
What more could you expect from such an arrogant person. He doesn't deserve to called a "sportsman"!
Lynn
For sure we should mount another challenge. Our boys did a fantastic job and should receive a heroes welcome when they return home. If they read this:- Please guys feel proud of what you did because we are proud of you. You guys were ALL brilliant and because of your efforts I'm proud to call myself a kiwi. We'll get 'em next. To the NZ Government :- for once I totally approve of every cent that you have put towards this campaign and ask that you support our crew and boat to the utmost of your ability.
G Mckay
Fire Dalton, Barker. put the money into breast cancer.
Tama (London)
Team NZ did an excellent job - beaten by a fractionally better team (tactically at least) during the final. I think it did a huge amount for the NZ profile within Europe (I live in London) and was probably the most exciting NZ sporting event I have seen. If the All Blacks had fought as hard against the odds we would be many world cup rugby titles ahead by now. I reckon the NZ govt should double up (on financing) to ensure we win next time.
Hans Hoeck
I think both teams were equal and both boats were equal. If you loose a cup of that magnitude by only 1 sec, it is pretty fair to say that team NZ is not a loser team.
Even consider that fact, that half of Alinghi's crew is also from NZ, one can only conclude that the real powerhouse of sailing is unmistakably NZ. I can only hope, that the entire team will reunite again under TNZ and the AC will stay in NZ for many decades to come even though more money could be made having it in Europe.
Brealz
To come back from the debacle of 2003, win the LV against big budgets and take two races out of the defender was remarkable and unexpected. The exploits of design, technology and teamwork define the NZ effort as both enigmatic and brilliant. I can not recall a time when watching sport, with all hope lost, as it was with the penalty (yes, an Australian supporting NZ) when the Gods came into play. The last leg was unbelievable. ETNZ surged with the almost inaudible remarks 'it is our only chance'. The finish was beyond bizarre and ultimately gut wrenching for those fighting to live another day. ETNZ throughout the LV and AC were internationally inspirational. Please consider that tens of millions watch the AC. In reading NZ comments of domestic comparison i shake my head in both amazement and disillusionment. What more do NZers want? For God sake, there is no other country in the world that can take on the might of budget, science and technology like NZ can. The last two legs will go down as the most competitive and memorable moments in AC history. Surely that is worthy of due respect. Well done ETNZ.
Jono, Aucklander (London)
Deano, you are a legend! A hero! You are loyal. You are a true kiwi. You have sailed for Team NZ in 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2007! Hold your head high.
Butterworthless, you are a "I can't say". You jumped ship, you are not loyal, and you should be retiring in Switzerland, not New Zealand. Same goes with your mate Russell.
NZ Government, thank you! This is a sound investment. No arty farty crap, sports heroes who place us on the world stage. We should keep supporting Team New Zealand and bring home the cup in the near future!
Also thanks to Emirates, I will be flying with you home.
Jim Vigo
Dean Barker made some bad decisions that suggest lack of coolness under pressure. Going about onto a collision course with Alinghi at the windward mark in race 7 was the worst: if he had tucked in behind as he did at the first beat he could have contested the run on the fourth leg. As it turned out, he would have won that race easily and this is not just facile hindsight - his boat consistently out-ran Alinghi downwind. It was on the beat where he had trouble staying ahead. We could also point out the bad handling of the spinnaker in race 5. That was panic stations from the moment the rip happened, and the blame for the subsequent mishandling must be laid at the helmsman's door, as he sets the course during the manoeuvre and also sets the tone for the crew's confidence.
Sharon
Brad Butterworth will be the best sportsperson in New Zealand when he has won a Halberg Award.
Jason M
How can NZ be both sore winners and sore losers? Get over it. I can't remember any Australian team at any sport, ever losing in New Zealand - and being treated graciously. It's usually the opposite with jeers and barbs flying.
John Macassey
Personally I am disappointed with team New Zealand's apparent overall lack of good tactical decisions. This weakness, coupled with the sometimes poor performance of a few of the crew graphically displayed by the hash they made when the spinnaker blew apart resulted in three unnecessary losses. The last race was a fiasco. Why on the first upwind beat then brilliantly passing Alinghi to lead around the bottom mark did someone made the decision to choose, once again the left! Copping a penalty from the tough tactics of Alinghi could have been avoided.
Completing the penalty turn about 30 meters from the finish line was not a very smart move. To limp that 30 assured the final nail in the coffin. The afterguard would know where they were in relation to the finish line. If they had completed the penalty, say 2 meters from the line, Team New Zealand would have won.
Dalton indeed had good reason to weep. Food for thought and I am sure after careful evaluation of the film footage and some serious and honest soul searching, from this gut wrenching and emotional experience will emerge "The Dream Team". I believe that next time a stronger and more battle hardened Team New Zealand will prevail!
10,000 reasons
To Not Again from Ashburton, there are 10,000 immediate reasons why NZ Govt or for that matter any future NZ Govt should support the America's Cup, and that is 10,000 people that the boating industry employ, they have had the exposure, and they have commented that the America's Cup and NZ involvement in the event has help them immensely. Not to mention the value of the industry itself, the taxable dollars that goes into the Govt coffers and yes, does benefit NZers in those areas you mention. And I haven't even touched on the tourism dollar. This whole campaign for the America's Cup for NZ was not just about racing, clear strategies and outcomes were well thought out by ETNZ, Tourism NZ and the Marine Industry to benefit NZ as a whole. And everyone will benefit from it. I'm not rich, in fact I'm a rough-neck blue collar, but even I can apply a bit of common sense when it matters, and I definitely don't support Labour, but if my tax dollars can get NZ more money than the tax money we spend, now that is smart money spent.
Lilli
To answer your questions:
No, Brad Butterworth is not NZ's best sportsperson, he was part of a team. Alinghi's win was a team effort, Brad didn't do it by himself alone. You could say the best team won the America's Cup, but it was obvious it all came to lady luck. It was sheer luck Alinghi won those races, any other day it could have gone Team NZ's way.
Definitely yes, Team NZ should mount another challenge, and the government should continue the funding. To those killjoys who say it's a rich man's sport and should not be funded by the government, well, the hospital problems, etc. are always there, forever. Why can't some of our taxes at least be used in something that we can feel proud of. Most people enjoyed watching the yacht races (it beat the rugby ratings-wise don't forget), the thrill, the excitement, the pleasure and the pain, yachting might be a 'rich man's sport' but it's definitely a sport enjoyed by rich and poor alike.
Cup fan
We should absolutely have another shot at bringing the Cup home. Grant Dalton has turned this team around, so full kudos to him. When the Cup left us in 2003 we didn't have the strongest team, having lost Peter Blake. Without Peter's leadership we tried to be radical and we failed terribly. However when Grant came on board everything changed. Like Peter, his experience in international boating events brought stability back to the team and his immense pride in sailing for his country showed through. Now we have an amazing group of sailors who have just proven to the world that we are not out of it. Sir Peter didn't win the Cup first time out, so there's no reason for us to give up on the boys. As for Brad, no-one can deny that he is at the top of his game, but to be NZs top sportsperson surely would have to include showing great sportsmanship and I think we can agree that he hasn't done us proud in that respect. The way he spoke to his crew was downright embarrassing. There are far more deserving sportspeople representing us on the world stage.
Anne (Auckland)
Of course we should compete for the Cup again. To suggest we don't because we didn't win would be very childish. Alinghi deserved to win because they sailed better and congratulations to them. Brad Butterworth for NZ Sportsman of the Year? Hardly! On what grounds? Tell me what qualifies someone as a NZ sportsman? If it's their birth, no immigrants to NZ are eligible which could be a bit hard of them if they are representing us or perhaps our best sportspeople could be Sportsperson of the Year in South Africe, India, Australia, etc. If it's their presence here, Brad et al are not eligible. If it's their representation of this country, Brad et al are not eligible. If it's anyone who has been here at some time in their life, it's meaningless. Part of the current confusion - who or what is a New Zealander? I would suggest that it is someone who is living in and makes a priority commitment to the best interests of New Zealand and New Zealanders. Whether or not one believes Brad et al were justified in accepting a higher offer, and society appears based on 'self-interest rules' or one is 'unworthy' of success, I see no grounds on which to make him our Sportsman of the Year.
Cheque mate
Being brutally honest with yourself - would any New Zealander around the age of 40, have turned down $12 million USD (2003 exchange rate)? One could say that Coutts, Butterworth and co did what was right for their wives and families back then. (Never mind the savage NZ taxes) The price is their discomfort zone as 'Kiwis' in NZ - for the next 10 years or so.(Time heals.) They didn't do anything illegal like some kiwis we all know! If the rich and the comfortable in New Zealand had shown less of the 'I'm alright Jack' attitude and had made the Coutts crew a realistic financial offer back then, they'd still be here. AC Yachting is their livelihood and you go where the money is. We had our opportunity and blew it - and I reckon a real sense of missed opportunity underlies much of the current Kiwi bleating. Having said all that, think what could have happened if we'd been sensible enough to have heeded Sir Peter Blake's vision of keeping the AC in NZ for many defences to come. Bet that's giving some of our Kiwi business bigshots around the viaduct a few sleepless nights right now.
Mary
Team NZ is very good, but Alinghi is obviously better! What really bothers me in this issue is the fact that while the NZ government is keen to invest millions of dollars into this rich man's sport, schools in this country are expected to raise funds themselves for educational equipment etc! Somehow something doesn't seem quite right here!
Jamie
This article shows why we choke so much. We encourage losing. We would do it differently, who cares we didn't win, we can't do it differently. Have we lost sight in the reason we compete in sports events? Winning should be ruthless, winners don't think about who came second they acknowledge them and thank them for being there to compete, but to complain at our lack of involvement in their winning get over it! We should be plotting our sporting revenge for next time.
Rob
I read with great amusement about the name 'Alinghi' coming from Ernesto Bertarelli's "childhood imagination", yet previously I read an interview with him where he says he came up with the name with his wife and children as he was setting up his first campaign. Likewise, the press-conference arrangements made by Bertarelli were sheer poor sportsmanship and behaviour reserved only for people with money money money on their mind. Bertarelli has taken one big step towards ruining one of the world's great sporting events through over-commercialisation.
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