KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Chris
They did loose by 3 races, and it was a great America's Cup race. However ETNZ need to stay in the America's Cup because NZ is truly the nation of sailing. All they need to do is take some time off relax a bit and then start preparing for the next America's Cup. There are people out there who have given up on the Kiwi spirit but there are those who will be out there win or loose! This is the difference between a true Kiwi and a fake Kiwi. At the end of the day ETNZ have done NZ proud, and it will be a big loss if they were to give up. ETNZ need to hold there heads up high and be proud of what they have accomplished from these races. Go the kiwis!
Robert Hughes
It's over, thank God, now let's get back to some real things in life. Congratulations to Brad and the Kiwi boys on the Swiss billionaire boat. Commiserations to the Kiwi boys on the Arabian Emirates, Japanese Toyota NZ boat. By the by way, Japanese are quite partial to whale-burgers. To the lame Duck Mallard and HC, save the millions to give to our health system so we are able to pay our medical staff across the country what they are really worth and hopefully increase staff so our overworked, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff can keep health errors to a minimum.
If all the other yachtie hopefulls still want to race at the next A Cup, go for it, but do it with your own money and leave our tax money for our ailing health system. The cover of this page show Dalton about to cry. I have seen people cry when they when they have to endure the long wait in our emergency depts. I have seen people cry when hospitals have made a mistake in medical diagnosis or treatment. Get the priorities right, put the sparkle in the smile of all kiwi across this country and not just the yachties.
Squib (Tauranga)
Team NZ, We're up there with the best and we have every right to be proud of them. They made Alinghi work for their win. Bad luck also played a part in our defeat. Better luck next time.
Exiled in Manchuria
I'm still agog that anyone back in NZ truly cares about this most tedious of "sports". Wake Up NZ!! Trout fishing is, in comparison, an action packed spectator sport but we don't get that splashed all over the TV day and night. I saw an article in the Herald recently saying employers should make allowances for employees being tired after staying up and watching these races. I feel employers must already have made these allowances when hiring people who are, quite clearly, retarded. Who cares!
Red
Russell Coutts and the tight five really stuffed things up for NZ yachting but do you blame them they won the America's Cup twice for New Zealand and walked away with the same amount of money as when they started. They are worth every cent they are getting paid now if only Team NZ paid a bit more the cup might still be in New Zealand.
Go Alinghi.
Communique
Grant Dalton's effort has been an extraordinary demonstration of leadership. He has welded a team the like of which the AC may not have seen before, with the possible exception of Australia II. If this was the military there would be another Kiwi Victoria Cross this week. ETNZ lost to Alinghi but were head and shoulders over all others. Hind sight shows that the difference was some very fine judgement calls that in any other contest may have been hailed as tactical brilliance. My heart bursts with pride.
Christopher Miles
I don't care a damn about the yatching. Good riddance.
Ash
New Zealand are the WORST losers in the entire world. Every time you lose you make up some story to excuse whatever you have lost at - rugby, netball, yachting, whatever. Someone mentioned how terrible New Zealand looks in the media - I totally agree. I think we can label it 'Small Country Syndrome' - you think you are bigger and better then what you really are. The funniest thing about when New Zealand loses is how the whole country seems to plunge into depression. Yet when you win, you enjoy rubbing it in everyone's faces. I took so much pleasure in the Wallabies win at the weekend.
Jada (Tauranga)
Challenge again if they want to, but the government should not be paying anything towards it. Why should yachting get public money when their are so many other sports that have to get by on a shoe string?
Kiwiboy (London)
I can't help but notice the difference in tone of today's slightly bitter reporting on the America's Cup and all its various machinations.
As a proud Kiwi who has been living overseas for the past seven years it has become increasingly evident that the media coverage of New Zealand competing in sporting events is becoming more and more bitter and biased when we lose. New Zealand is a proud sporting nation, but even with our best efforts cannot win everything. It does incredibly well for the total of just over 4million people. Let's be proud of that and put a stop to this slide into bad sportsmanship that seems to be happening. Let's cut out the increasing level of Kiwi's booing at the rugby, sailing etc and get on with playing the game. It does no good to the honour of our sportsmen and women who play to win, but play by the rules, to have their supporters on the sidelines being bad sports for them. Come on New Zealand, and the Herald, let's play fair.'
"Ernesto" (Geneva)
Oh you Kiwis! Small country blah blah. Media conspiracy blah blah. Money talks blah blah. Just cause you have the finest fifteen fat alkies on the planet doesn't mean you understand sport in the modern world. Maybe if you win you can just do away with the sails altogether and go back to dugout canoes. And btw for all those Kiwis wearing "Bring it home' T-shirts, fyi the cup is home and that's where it's going to stay.
Ian Morine
I totally agree with Julian from Hamilton. If NZ are to compete at the 33rd America's Cup, then we must vote Labour at next year's election. As yet again, National can't decide whether they support Team NZ or not - just like they can't decide whether they support KiwiSaver and a number of other important issues/policies "if" the Nats win next year! How can any party hope to run a country when they can't make up their minds on any issues. Maybe National should re-name themselves the "Airy-fairy" or "Undecided" or "Let's Wait and See What Happens" Party.
Spending 34 million last time and 10 million so far for the next Cup is money well spent, on the exposure it has given NZ overseas and for the excellent entertainment value here. It's so refreshing to have other more constructive ways of investing the tax dollar in our future, other than the usual health and education, which only have "current" value and no "future" investment value at all, for NZ. Anyway, good on you Team NZ, you did us proud and I know it is just a matter of time when the "home of world sailing" will become the "home of the America's Cup" again.
Luke
OK, so we didn't bring back the cup? Big Deal! We haven't won the rugby world cup in a while, and I don't see people telling them to drop out! And yes, the best team did win, but the best team was comprised of a lot of Kiwis and Kiwi-trained people. So the best team could have been ETNZ, had the all the kiwis been loyal to their country!
Jan (Albany)
It is heart wrenching to see Team NZ go down. What a great show have they given us! They brought home the Louis Vuitton Cup, we should cherish them for that. And, good on the government to commit to the next regatta already. On the question if Brad Butterworth is one of NZ;s greatest sportsmen; whilst he is surely great at his sport, it was his own choice not to be one of us anymore. He has assisted once in taking it out of New Zealand's hands and once in keeping it away from us. He has made his point. I am sure he will get a medal from the Swiss.
Lyndsay Fell
I think I got my $8.50 worth (34 mil by 4 mil people) and would personally contribute more for our national esteem. We loved it and couldn't question the effort put in by Grant and the team, by the sponsors or the support. Thank you to all of you and please use the defeat and drive us on - we can do it. As a nation we should be proud of the talent we have out there and although we haven't the finance to pay them their global worth, we have provided the environment for them to develop that talent.
Marlene, NZer and supporter (Central Coast, Australia)
Of course NZ should mount another campaign. It is great for the profile of NZ and they are serious contenders. For all NZers living in Australia, they are a source of inspiration and are followed very closely.
Bumcheek
The Team New Zealand boys did a good job but I've never been one to settle for second place and if the rumours are true that Russell Coutts and his "tight five" are off to oracle then I'm afraid that those sailors (combined with Larry Ellisons billions) may be impossible to beat next cup. If we're to have any chance we better start training today
Le Fox
Close, but no cigar. The races were very exciting, & if NZ did win, it would have generated mega bucks for the boat building industry. Auckland economy hopefully would have benefited greatly, as long as the major sponsors wanted all the future races to be held in Auckland, as don't forget Emirates was wanting to take off to Dubai.
My problem is all the hangers on in the councils & government that need to check out these overseas venues at the taxpayer expense, & as long as they are having a great time, I expect they will wish to continue. I got a great view from my lounge room. Make no mistake, NZ put in a great effort, but if they are so good, why can't they get completely sponsored, because it is one hell of a lot of money. Unfortunately, the sponsors do get to choose the venue, which would make our participation rather mute. Australia with all the billionaires who do want a return on their money opted out because it is far too expensive. It's a shame, but if they want to race, I think they should source money from other places besides my pocket.
Proud Kiwi (Auckland)
Hey, John the Ausi, at least we try - when was the last time Australia tried to put a team forward to win the Auld Mug? Wasn't it the time their boat DID sink? And anyway, at the end of the day we know we are great sailors - you just have a case of sour grapes because NZ was able to do something that OZ couldn't!
Keith Arnold
Yes, I'm afraid the best team did win. Overall Alinghi had the best package. Team NZ sailed their boat better, matched Alinghi for speed, but the kiwi "tight five" on Alinghi gave Alinghi the tactical edge, which is what it came down to in the end. Definitely we should challenge again, learn from this, and bring it back next time.Sstay strong Dalt's and the boys.
Iain Gulliford
In the wake of Team NZ's misfortune in the America's Cup, it is reassuring to know that the government have made an instant decision to commit $10 million to enable the next challenge to be mounted. This is a laudable sentiment and will be much appreciated by the majority of New Zealand. Unfortunately, while sponsoring private commercial enterprise in this fashion, they seem to have lost sight of the fact that they have just refused to fund their own Coastguard services who rely on volunteers, donations and sponsorship to survive and provide a professional service. Viewed in this light it may appear a more cynical and arrogant gesture motivated by the search for personal gain and popularity. I am sure there will be a very convincing reason for this policy, maybe the agency that committed the funds would be available for comment.
Jono (Melbourne)
Over here in Australia the America's Cup gets no coverage so I was startled to find the finals series live on TV. The racing was close but ultimately Alinghi had that x-factor that gave them the edge. A 5-2 score is a little flattering, but I think the main story to come out of the Cup is the unquestionable loyalty of the Kiwi fans, who turned up to Valencia in their thousands to support ETNZ. We will always be the little nation that could and it is something we should never forget. We'll be back.
Tory Jones
So the Alinghi Boss is reported as "heaping praise on the New Zealander, saying he has skippered the team brilliantly over the last four years." He got it wrong... Butterworth is more Swiss than NZer simply because he chose to not be a patriot and head for the $$$ offered by the Swiss. The competition is fast becoming a farce. Hand in your passport Brad, your not really a kiwi anymore. Go yodel the alps instead.
Kaz (Te Kuiti)
Team NZ did us proud, so they didn't win, they are still winners in our hearts. Go team NZ you were awesome, hold your heads up high. We will get them next time!
Vic
Congratulations to Team NZ. You're the heroes. You've done it all for NZers despite not having to bring home the cup. Well done!
JG
We need to be gracious in defeat, we are the better sports. Our team did great, in the end it came down to luck, blowing out a spinnaker put us on the back foot, a bad turn in the next race and last night Brad Butterworth planning to hit us if necessary to get that penalty. Yet there was only a second in it.I for one am proud of our team, they played a good fair game, didn't jump up and down like spoiled brats when things didn't go their way and I still fail to see how their protest wasn't upheld when the rules clearly state the sail must be dropped without a man going up the mast, a man clearly went up the mast! We didn't need a halyard why did they? We are definitely the better team and won on points of sportsmanlike behaviour!
Bill Moore
Proof again that:
- Kiwi sailors are best in the world.
- Dalts and Team NZ will bring home the Cup in 2009.
- This is the best investment the NZ Government has ever made.
- Go Team NZ!
And thanks to Emirates, Toyota and everyone who believed - who opened their chequebooks and their hearts.
Michael
Sadly yes, the best team obviously won, but by god we we're so good. To do what those guys did was nothing more than a miracle. Such a heartbreak though. But on the plus side, I can get some sleep again.
Grateful Kiwi
The team wouldn't exist without the hard work and devotion of one man, Grant Dalton. The man deserves a knighthood. I would back any venture this man was heading. He has developed a strong and exceptionally loyal team of sailors. Go on Helen, give him another 30mil.
gilly Shine
Absolutely! New Zealand need to mount another challenge, the media exposure in Europe that we have received over the last ten weeks has shown our country to be the leaders in sailing, The fact that the Swiss boat and the kiwi boat were sailed by a majority of kiwis is worldwide knowledge and Europe and the world are now realising what we have down here. The loyalty our people have shown by getting to Valencia and supporting our true Kiwis has become legendary and the fact that we are prepared to throw our little country in behind the biggest backers in the modern world is awesome, Go the Kiwis although they haven't won and are completely gutted by the result they have shown the world the true Kiwi culture and shown the world what we are and why we lead the world technologically. The rip off money hungry Kiwis have gone and they can sail for another team but give them another 4 years and there greed will again become an issue as it did in New Zealand, New Zealand maybe down but it is certainly not out, most of all we may have lost the race but the team have regained their honour they have proven to the rest of the world with a little bit of luck and a their team spirit they can succeed next time.
Westie
ETNZ won the America's Cup in a symbolic sort of way. It proved to the world that Kiwis are indeed the best sailors in the world when it comes boat races. Whilst ETNZ did not win the AC in its physical form it won the hearts of every single NZer no matter where they were in the world at the time. ETNZ is heroes to me.
Whilst people may now complain of the amount of taxpayer money spent on the AC I feel in this instance it is money well spent. NZ has probably, and most likely for years to come, recoup by tenfold the money spent on the America's Cup 2007. This money has been more well spent than what has been spent on the Salt family. At least ETNZ has done more for NZ than that family would ever achieve. So we need to look at the funding by the NZ taxpayer from that angle. It is likely ETNZ will win back the America's Cup sometime in the future at the next races. Just make sure we have the winning duo of Dean Barker and Grant Dalton(and the rest of the fantastic crew of ETNZ) in that next lot of Challenger races. You guys are wonderful ETNZ. You have done NZ proud. You have raced against a difficult foe and provided them with more than their fare-share of headaches and swear words. Well done.
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