KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection:
The Ham's
Well done guys keep up the great work and we will see the cup back were it needs to be.We can do this because all of the country is behind you all the way in the bad times and the good times. Go New Zealand! Bring back the cup!
Grant (Houston-Texas)
Totally awesome! At this point the Alinghi campaign is seemingly discovering Lac Geneve does not really c.f. the Hauraki Gulf. And that Suisse and savvy nouvelle New Zealander sailors, chasing the Euro pay check, don't necessarily gel awfully well. Messers Dalton and Barker, and your majestic crew, cheers! How you are achieving your legacy should be inspiration to all of us. Why? To misquote Sir Ed, you've focused on knocking "the bastard off". And you're doing it with extraordinary aplomb. So proud of your intrinsic kiwi spirit, which defines us kiwis. Thank you. Enjoy the olde mug. You've got it. You're magnificent.
Sukhwinder Singh
Alingi was ready to race in every condition in 2003, when tnz broke down. Now the same people making noise about conditions? I would love see the same answer from tnz as Butterworth said last time. The difference between boats 5-?. GO Tnz we are proud of You "bring it back."
broker 4
"Give em a bigger taste of Kiwi," tomorrow, on behalf of us all down under. You guys are The Greatest on the Water. I am sure all the other opposition Kiwis and an enormous band of Kiwi fans are very proud of you guys too, just quietly. Kiwis Rule The Waves.
Leoni (Auckland)
Well here we go again, Alinghi, complaining throwing their toys out. Well they both raced in the same conditions and there could only be one victor Emirates Team NZ. If the boot was on the other foot we would just get on and do the talking on the water. Go Grant, Deano and guys and give it your all for the final 3 races so we can bring the Auld Mug home to where it belongs in Auckland NZ!
Beth
A note of support - well done guys! You deserve this and I know as New Zealanders you have done us proud!We look forward to the cup coming home and the parade for you to come home to.Go Kiwi Go.
Manukau
Regardless who wins the cup, this is the race everyone will talk about and will long remember. Bring it home boys!
Janie (Henderson)
All the best guys and God bless you.
N Christiansen
On what basis can Alinghi claim that the race was "uneven"? Both boats were on the same course. As unnerving as it is to see Team NZ slip behind, it was certainly "edge-of-your-seat" racing. On another point, would it not be better for TVNZ to screen the full race again at 5.30AM?
Joyously Jumping John
Win or lose, we are proud of you guys. go for it kiwi!
J (Auckland)
Boy my heart almost jumped into my throat during that last leg and I wasn't even on board NZL92. I can imagine how you boys must've felt. I tip my hat to you all for your absolute professionalism during the Louis Vuitton Cup and now the America's cup. I am very proud of the way you have all conducted yourselves and its wonderful to see your smiles in some of the photos posted on the NZ Herald site. Whatever happens you have a huge fan in this kiwi. Well done boys! P.S- For all the Team New Zealand boys that don't get mentioned half as much as Dean & Grant this one's for you. We recognize your worth just as much as the other two. You beauties!
Paul
Really want to see your guys to win but go race somewhere else after 4 years. I don't want see you race here as we can not afford the house if you do.
Marg (Auckland)
It's just wonderful to watch a sport's team showing such discipline. All that dedication is paying off. Keep it up team. Apart from the thrill of the racing it brings a lump to my throat to see our New Zealand flag flying so proudly on the other side of the world. Your choice of flag is perfect!
PerthLew (Perth)
It's great to get the news each time I log onto the NZ Herald site. In Oz at the moment we get no news of the America's Cup. I was in Akl in 03 and have mates in Valencia. As an Aussie its great to see you Kiwis going so well. Kiwi Kiwi Kiwi, eh eh eh.
Sparky (Auckland)
Come on TVNZ - please re-run the greatest ever America's Cup race at a time when the majority of NZers won't be racing around getting ready for work or school! I'm sure we could all miss a few episodes of Coro Street to engage in the excitement!
Westie
Well done so far ETNZ. King Neptune/Poseidon and Aeolus will be with you all the way in the next 3(or 4) races. May all the other gods of the seas and winds be with you. Protect, guide and assist you throughout your lives and experiences. May Alinghi's nerves become more frayed as the competition heats up and mistakes are made. Kia Kaha. Bring home to NZ the America's Cup. As it is said, So Be It.
Gisborne
Great stuff TNZ but we're still not there yet, only three races to go. Now is the time to really get stuck in, eliminate those errors put the pressure on Alinghi. Nearly had a heart attack after seeing an advantage of 350m become a deficit of 100m within minutes.
Proud to be Kiwi (Auckland)
TNZ's impressive win has nothing to do with the weather! Nothing beats team spirit, attitude, loyalty, skill and the pride of being a Kiwi. Should weather be a factor, all Kiwi's know "Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you". As for the venue, many options were open. You've gripped the nation boys, thanks! It's a week of short nights, continue as you've done and know you're supported which ever the wind blows.
Funkykiwi (Gosford, Australia)
My father in law likened America's Cup to watching water boil. After last night's race he was left eating more than a little humble pie. With typical never say die guts and talent this crew clawed back from what everyone is saying is a faster better boat on the downward beat, but my fellow kiwis there is still a long way to go, and let's not forget when Dean Barker lost the cup to Alinghi he did not have many friends left on your side of the Tasman. It has taken a huge amount of dedication commitment and bravery to even come back to sailing after what would have felt like a public lynching. Kiwis need to remember in some eyes we are seen as a blip on the world map and yet we still challenge teams that have huge budgets, greater participation rates and supposed superior technology and yet we are still here for the right to be no.1. No matter what the result, Dean and his team have done us proud, I'm glad to have watched the greatest America's Cup race ever.
Roz
For my household, today's race went something like this: waiting, waiting, then quick disappointment, happy, happy, happy, finger-biting, frustrated, disappointed, frustrated, hopefull, HAPPY!
Ian Morine
Absolutely awe-inspiring as far as E Team NZ are concerned! That truly has to be one of NZ sports finest moments when E Team NZ crossed the finish line. The whole world will be talking about "that" race and this regatta for many years to come. To quote an Aussie saying - "Gg you good things, Go" - like the wind, and make it a 5 - 1 result on Grant Dalton's 50th birthday this Sunday, the best birthday present imaginable. Also many, many thanks to the Government for their courage (under fire) to make this scenario possible in the first place. In particular Trevor Mallard, you are "a legend" mate, literally.
DC
Unbeleiveable!
Let's not lose our heads about it - keep focused! Well done to the entire crew! Bring it on home!
Jenny
You are just so wonderful. The NZ economy will stay on a high for years now. Well done. We are all soooo very proud of you.
Kay Evans
Alinghi needs to get over themselves. They don't decide when the boats race, that's for the officials. It's about skill in all winds, seasons etc, that's what sailing is about. Stop moaning and get out there and sail. I think they expected a walk in the park against Team NZ. Team NZ you rock. We have a boat race in all conditions not just the ones that Alinghi think they should sail in. Stop whinging and be men and step up and get on with it. Alinghi seem to be a bunch of prima donnas. Go Team NZ, go go go and good luck to you.
Boone
Ute!
M Pickering
Good on you, Emirates Team New Zealand. Just brilliant. Go for it.
JB (Auckland)
Aww shux!
So Bertarelli is now complaining about the conditions in Valencia as being unfair to Alinghi? And that ghastly spectator fleet wash!
Oh dear - now let me think just WHO chose Valencia as the venue for the Cup? What a bunch of whoosy prima donnas!
Craig
Both teams sailed in the same weather, Team NZ made a better go of it, how is that unfair? Maybe because Alinghi didn't win? Get over yourselves Alinghi, and stop whining. We're soooo sorry your billions of dollars can't buy you some "perfect" weather - not.
Team Kiwi Supporter
One has to laugh, notice how "whiney" the Swiss have got? What with Brad hurling expletives re: the spectator boats, Ernesto whinging about the "Las Vegas" type of racing? Harden up I say - you're gonna lose the Cup - just face up to it, live with it, deal to it - but quit your bitching I say! Go Team Emirates! Kiwi's R.O.C.K.
Kiwi Kim (Los Angeles)
Mr. Ferrari Bertarelli can't buy wind. He can't buy the life experience of Kiwi kids growing up sailing old beaten up boats who have to develop their eyes and wind sense. We won today because of our eyes and the wind. We saw the wind and you can't buy that.
Nigel from Southern Spars (Auckland)
Go Team NZ, make us proud. We know u can win it. You guys are awesome.
Swiss/Kiwi (Colorado)
Here we go again. There are 2 main differences between ETNZ & Alinghi. While the sailor on ETNZ grind and grind, Bertarelli and his boys whine & whine. Either it is the wind or the New Zealand Fans but they just whine ,whine and whine. Alinghi chose the venue, stopped the waka and the haka but today the could not stop Tangaroa who gave that extra puff when ETNZ needed it. Mr. Bertarelli as you said get over it and let it go.
The Ham's
Well done guys keep up the great work and we will see the cup back were it needs to be. We can do this because all of the country is behind you all the way in the bad times and the good times. Go New Zealand! Bring back the cup!
Patron of the Niue Yacht Club
Wonderful race, watched with live tex from One Sport. Very exciting - Go Team New Zealand! Hope to see many yachts going down to New Zealand after a big win for Team NZ
Hector Cyre
That's sailboat racing. If they want to sail on a perfect course and just match hull and sail designs (boatspeed) without the vagaries of wind and current, they might as well just have a simulated race on a computer. Both boats were on the same course, under the same trying conditions. One simply crew handled those conditions better than the other - no Las Vegas crap shoot about it. And not perfectly at that. I am really surprised by some of the SUI100 Kiwis bitching about the conditions. It is not characteristic or representative of the Kiwis I know. It reminds me more of Michael Campbell's whining about the US Open course conditions this year.
Jill Clouston
Just so exciting don't know how my heart is going to stand the next races. You guys are fantastic and so enjoy watching you. How do you stay so calm? The teamwork sure comes across so well. Love you all
Grant Smith
Way to go New Zealand! Wahoo, you are really making all of New Zealand so very proud & raising the profile yet again of our fantastic country, keep it up!
Amanda & Curt (Springfield, Illinois, USA)
Congratulations Team New Zealand! You have shown the world how to sail and sail with style and class. Kiwis are very proud of you, kiwis at home and kiwi's around the world. American's can also be proud of the crew members that make up Team New Zealand. Go get it lads, bring it back home. As for the those who chose cash instead of loyalty to their country, they can say they have a fat wallet, but they don't share the pride of a loyal nation right now. Swiss eat our salt spray! Go team NZ, go! As my American husband say's, "good on yah mate's".
Next