KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of your messages:
Bob Parnell
As a New Zealander I was so proud when we held the America's Cup and so depressed when we lost it in 2003. Grant Dalton has done a magnificent job to get us where we are today. Good luck to the whole team. I sincerely hope that you can "bring it home" to where it belongs.
Sandy
With Kiwi coolness and NZ pride, I know you can do it guys, all the very best.
Captain
Italian seamen, now retired. rank: passengers car ferry master. Please report AC in a Sea Country. Crew nationality must be same of ship flag.
Fly Emirates. Fly New Zealand.
The Fleming Clan (Te Atatu Peninsula)
Go hard guys. There are going to be a lot of tired kiwi's over the next several days as we all watch you battle it out on the high seas! We know you will all give it your best, and we hope that luck and the hard work that you all have put in pays off. Would certainly be incredible to have 'The Auld Mug' back here in NZ! Good luck all and give it heaps!
Di (Florida)
We were lucky enough to be on the finish line in Valencia for Race 5. Wish we could come back for the win! Go Team New Zealand!
Transplanted Maori (Simi Valley, Southern California)
Go guys! I'm ready for my Saturday morning berth in front of the TV to watch it all unfold (a day behind here). I think that the kiwi boat has more speed than it's letting on. Maybe its the secret buzzy bee on the keel bulb? Awesome team work to have gotten this far and you are all legends. Good luck guys!
Realsport
No pressure, guys, but bring that thing home please! Nothing personal, but I for one would love to see Brad lose that arrogant smirk. Even though it's a millionaires' sport, there's nothing like dropping a frown onto the dial of someone rich enough to own a whole syndicate I reckon. Seriously, this for me is as exciting as 1995, which was the first time in my life I paid more than fleeting attention to yachting. 2000 was amazing, 2003 a necessary rite of passage. Now it's time to do the deed. God speed and best wishes for a favourable wind.
Mark, Dot and Caitlin Baker.
Behr (Aucklander)
To Grant & the boys. All the best for your races. It is so exciting can't wait for it to begin. Bring it on. Kia Kaha boys we will be with you in spirit & soul wishing and blowing all the way from Kiwi Land. All the way from Little old New Zealand and as the saying goes, may the wind be with you.
Bea & Murray Haslett
Very, very best of luck to everyone, we're all on your side.
Bea & Murray Haslett and all our Family.
Whangarei
Team NZ may the force be with you.
Jimmy (Auckland)
To Grant, Dean and the boys the whole country is backing you all the way 4 million kiwis. Bring it home boys.
M Cooper
Go Team New Zealand. The whole country is behind you. You can do it.
Kiwi Kim (Charleston, South Carolina, USA)
We just lost 9 firefighter "heroes" in our community last week. You also put your lives on the line. To me Team NZ are my heroes. Bring home the cup and I promise I'll come back to see it sitting on "terra firma". C'mon Kiwi c'mon!
Debbie Brown
My husband, Graemme & I are not boat people but we follow everything that is happening with Team New Zealand - we believe in all the crew expertly put together with Grant Dalton & Dean Barker. The enjoyment and excitement you give this country is something really special, thank you. I look forward to being in the crowd as we welcome you home with the America's Cup
Rach
Go get 'em guys!! That was an awesome race. Keep the faith we are all with you. Bring the cup home. Awesome job Dean, Grant & the team.
Sweet Tweety
Hi Guys! Just give it all you got. Wishing you all the best. We know you can do it. We all Believe in you. All our love guys.
From the Crichton Family.
Val
Best wishes to you all. I am hoping to be watching the first race to night. Good luck.
Victor (Valencia)
Good luck for Team NZ. ValeNZia won't forget you!
Shaun
What you have accomplished so far as a team and us all back home as a nation is truly a testimony to the Kiwi spirit and way of life. May good luck and god speed be with us all, during the hard times and the good times. New Zealand knows you can do it boys. Bring that old girl home, good luck boys gogogogogogogogo.
From the team at the Prospect of Howick
P.S. Alingi have forgotten they are taking on a nation not a team.
Auckland
Best of luck Team New Zealand. The Buzzy Bee will bring the cup back home to New Zealand. This fine country you call home is with you all the way. You are fine sailors, keep focussed and it's yours for the taking.
Gray Family (Devonport)
Great work so far guys. All the very best, we're behind you all the way. Wish we were there rather than up all night here. Hope you 'kick butt'. Go for it!
MM (Auckland)
Victory to Team New Zealand - our sporting heroes!
Sock it to 'em, and watch the Red Socks wave again. May fair winds attend you, and our hearts beat for you.
Gloria (Perth)
What a fantastic race. I have listened to both races via audio. I came across to Auckland for the defence and felt so sorry for Dean Barker and the crew. They all deserve another chance to bring the Cup back to NZ waters, still a long way to go but what a fantastic win to come from behind yesterday and snatch victory. You are all in my thoughts and prayers whatever the final result you have done yourselves and your supporters proud. Congratulations on winning the race and best of luck for the rest of the series.
Kathy
Good luck to the team. Keep focussed with the win against Alinghi under your belt. Now we know that they are not invincible, they do take their eye off the ball. That will hit hard and Ernesto will put the pressure on even more than he has been doing to his team, that will make mistakes happen more regularly. Looking forward to the Team bringing the Cup home and showing the world what great sportsman we have. We are very proud of you all.
Ron and Kathy Bishop.
Jo (Torbay)
Thrilling! What a great win lads! These days it's not possible to sleep at night! Keep it up and don't let the media get you to have wrong thoughts about NZ92's speed in comparison to Alinghi 100.
Nikki (Birkenhead)
Sensational win Team NZ! Love your work! All the best.
Sacha & Julien (Viaduct Harbour, Auckland)
Congratulations Team New Zealand! We love you. God speed.
Loretta (Nassau)
Once again Ernesto advocates; it has been seven years, give it up and move forward! Yes Ernestino, we will, after we get back the cup! Go boys. Give your best while the flame of getting even burns brightly.
Best wishes from Nassau.
Old Biddy (Otara)
Kia kaha Emirates Team NZ. Best wishes to all the team, on & off shore and many thanks to all your families who have had to endure your long absences. May the wind be amongst your sails and push that long awaited win faster. Hold your heads up high and be proud of what you have all achieved. You've all made me even prouder to be a Kiwi. May the hard work and good luck continue! Go hard boys!
Baachi (Auckland)
Congrats so far, but it's not over just yet. Now let's start the sail until the cup arrives home in Auckland NZ. May the courage and strength be with you, Go Team NZ.
Margaret
I just wanted to send my support to Team NZ for the coming races, and to tell them that I have a friend of 92 years old who gets up to watch them race, a very strong supporter of Team NZ. Good luck, we will be cheering you on.
Jenny (Gold Coast, Australia)
Your first match up against Alinghi and the All Blacks in South Afica aired at the same time on Fox sport channels, but was not a hard choice on what I wanted to watch. The rugby can watch replay later in the day. I'm rapt that I will be able to see all your racing live on Foxsport which coverage on the cup has been non-existent here in Australia. Team New Zealand I wish each and everyone of you all the very best, win or lose you already are champions. Kia kaha.
Vatau
Make sure someone checks the mast before you leave.
Storyteller (Kilcoy, Australia)
Win or lose, I know that the entire team will be giving their all. Like all Kiwi's here in Australia, I know we'll be watching the internet for news of the racing results and hoping for the best. But even if you don't win, just getting into the final will be enough for me. You've done well and there's always next time. Still, you may well surprise all of those people who think that the other side is too fast for you. Give it your best Team NZ. Give us something else to rub into the Aussie's noses. Race like the wind guys.
Andy
Hi guys, I just visited the New York Yacht Club 20 minutes ago. No sign of the America's Cup there, so hopefully it will be in NZ for me to see on my return home in a couple of weeks! Good luck.
Neil (West Sussex, UK)
To Dean and the team, congratulations on getting this far and proving NZ have what it takes to beat the best the world has to offer. You've carried on our great tradition of world class results since 1987. Good luck against Alinghi, even if they have a faster boat, no one can touch our team!
Kiwi Kranker (London)
I'll let Peter Blake do my talking:
"The America's Cup is what it is because it is so difficult to win. It is not a game for armchair admirals. It is not a game for the faint-hearted. It is a game for those who are not scared of pitting themselves against the best that the world has to offer. It's a game where winning is almost impossible, almost, but not impossible. And this is why it is worth fighting for."
All the best and nothing but full respect and support no matter which way the cards fall. Ill be back to support either way. Good luck lads.
Mike (Waitakere Ranges)
Be not fearful, we know you have the strength to bring back the Cup to the South Pacific. Each one of you has a desire to take the prize that nobody can match. The winds will be with you take your strength from knowing that. We are proud of what you have achieved and be proud of yourselves for in that strength you will achieve great things beyond your dreams. Dean needs you and you need him. Go take it to the Swiss!
Lytteltons ex-kiwis
Good luck Team NZ! We are so excited at the prospect of your bringing the cup back home. Go Team New Zealand, we know you can do it!
JayPro (Australia)
Good Luck Team New Zealand! Take the Cup to NZ. The wind will be pushing the sails all the way to the Cup! Go bros and gals! Bring it on back!
U R The One (Rotorua)
We're so excited to see you guys in the final. You're creating a bigger buzz than the ABs in SA! You're crew work and afterguard are second to none, so just out stare those temporary holders and they'll blink first. Best wishes.
Claudia (Berlin)
Team NZ, I keep my fingers crossed for you. You're the one and only true sailing nation. Go for it! Bring home the Cup once more!
Geoff (El Paso, Texas, USA)
Best of luck and bring the cup back to New Zealand where it belongs. From a Kiwi in El Paso, TX USA.
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