KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Robin Hague
Ahem. What is it about 5-2 that is difficult to understand? Of course the better team won. Is it appropriate to mount another challenge? We're a sailing nation, this is one of the paramount sailing contests. Team NZ appeared to have put together a superb programme with excellent sponsors, Government support and unparalleled encouragement from a passionate public. This is something of which no other team can boast. Of course we have to challenge again. If and when a hat has to come out, I'll be happy to put in some of my own money. Were it only that I was as rich as Ernesto Bertarelli/Croesus and I would fund it myself. Congratulations to Alinghi, but also congratulations to Emirates Team New Zealand for a wonderful, sincere attempt, for commitment, energy and attitude and most of all, for a great adventure for any New Zealander who watched, even from the UK.
Christchurch
I think we should continue racing. Even though we lost, it shows that kiwi's are the best sailors in the world. Alinghi was skippered by a now half-caste Kiwi and most of the sailors sailing on Alinghi were trained by Kiwis last America's Cup. It would be a shame to see a team that has so much national pride disappear. As a yachting enthusiast it is a shame to see a cup that was really initially based on national pride disappear to a cup based around who has the most amount of money. So Go Team New Zealand and restore national pride to the cup once more.
Shrub
No, leave the silly thing alone, if we win the next cup, what real benefit will ordinary Kiwis get?
David
$34 million wasted some have said? Give me a break. The government made all that back in tax paid by Team New Zealand and the local contractors that worked for Team NZ. And that's before you even try to put a figure on the effectively free advertising and promotion New Zealand has been getting in Spain, Switzerland and the rest of Europe. In fact I think you would struggle to think of an occasion when the NZ Govt has got a BETTER return on an investment than they have off this. In that light funding another challenge requires no second thinking at all. Go for it.
Phill
Yeah Alinghi probably deserved to win, but I think we managed to come along way in 4 years and at the rate we are improving we would be idiots to not challenge again. To all the people who think that the Government should put the money into other sports and/or the health system, get a life, the money they have invested has been paid back to NZ and some. I wanted a stadium, didn't get it, I wanted V8 racing, didn't get it, finally someone has some vision and we still get idiots harping on about spending the money elsewhere, can't we have a little fun for once. Go ETNZ and good luck for what might be the AC33 in 2009.
Paul Hart
Team NZ are heroes. We would be crazy not to mount another challenge.
Moheka
Glynn and people for that ilk epitomise all that is wrong in NZ. Ignorant of what our taxes actually paid for, it was a win win investment for NZ. Here is a link to some information: www.tourism.govt.nz/policy/pol-reports/res-ac-2007-eir/introduction.html
I don't know how much football contributes to the economy, education and health are in the state it is because of National's policies in the 1990's. Support ETNZ through my taxes? It is a sound investment, and I am no Labour Party supporter, just a realist and informed.
WetHog (Annapolis, USA)
Alinghi won 4 races in a row, and 5 out of 2 to win the America's Cup, so yes the best team won. ETNZ and New Zealand have nothing to be ashamed of and I hope ETNZ returns for AC33. It would be a shame for New Zealand to go the way of Australia in regards to the America's Cup. And a thank you NZ Herald for your great coverage of this event. Can't get articles like you provide in the States.
Blair (London and Hamilton)
I knew this was going to happen. First the Aussie's at the rugby and now this. We're terrible. We need to have collective look in the mirror at ourselves. What a nation of losers. Oh my. I'm going to burn my pathetic passport and stop doing the haka at pubs in London on a Saturday night. And now Helen and her crew want to give 10m hard earned dollars to these guys please. Me and and my cuz bros could use this cash. Tell Peri, Ma and the boys I'll be back next week and we'll sort this out over some fish and chips at the 66 club. I wish I was Australian.
Jenni Cunningham
Team NZ where utterly professional and brilliant. They definitely need to be there at the next challenge and this time we will win! So proud of TEAM NZ, well done!
Ger de Pater
My view is that "good on you team New Zealand" you've done what you could I suppose, I think you are a real team and showed that to us all , I know we deserve to win but, there will be a next time. Winning with 2 seconds, I know it's a win but what's 2 seconds nothing basically, so for me you guy's pulled it off. Thanks and all the best for the entire team.
NZ
This event was very very competitive. The Kiwis (Emirates Team NZ) did us extremely proud. Pity there are a few people that can't handle us losing. It was neck and neck a lot of the time and could've been anyone's. This year, it's Alinghi's. It has been a great effort. Congrats Alinghi and Team NZ. This event has proved that New Zealand produces the best sailors/boat builders in the world ;-)
Andy
The money being talked about on this website in regards to yachting is obscene when you consider that, this week, the NZ men's hockey team has had to go begging to SPARC to get $250,000 worth of funding after finishing second (by one goal) in an international competition. There seems to be this myth that TNZ has 4 million supporters. Plenty of people I know don't give two hoots about it.
"Louis Vitton"
John the Ausi, I think you are remiss in your comments. We are the best sailors in the world. If we weren't why were there so many of them in the America's Cup. Every boat had kiwi sailors on it EVERY BOAT. Hell Ernesto's had the majority of them excluding Team NZ so YES we have the best sailors in the world. And I am not dogging Team NZ. They did great. We beat out every other team there to challenge for the America's Cup. That itself is a major achievement.
Dave
Firstly congratulations to both teams. Alinghi were the better team and deserved to win the Auld Mug. To ETNZ, you made us very proud. Unfortunately luck just didn't go your way this time. Of course Team NZ should challenge for the next cup. This has been the most exciting regatta for years and they proved they are good enough to win it. Bring on the next cup.
Dunedin
It's sad that a lot of fellow New Zealanders can not see past the end of their own noses. They fail to realise that the America's Cup for NZ has been an investment for NZ pure and simple. This has, both last time, this time, and next time (I'm glad to hear) has provided huge benefits to NZ. People that make statements like "$34 million of taxpayers money down the drain..." and mention "3rd world hospital system" are very narrow-minded and I feel sorry for them. My message to them - Hello!, knock knock.
Jon
Yes we should definitely go for the next Americas Cup. I can imagine the huge disappointment Grant and the team must be feeling, but they have come along way from 2003. They will bring it home next time.
Kaytrena
It's called Team NZ for a reason. They have been fantastic and what other team has had their whole country behind them. I'm happy for the government to give them the money so we can come back.
Tom
If we can't win the cup when Russell Coutts isn't racing against us, there's no way we will when he is.
Swissman (Switzerland)
100 per cent agree. I'm right now in the office of Alinghi's main sponsor (UBS) and business continues as usual. No one really cares here about the victory (of course except the marketing dept.) No wonder, Kiwis won anyway. Wish you better luck next time. Will start watching it, as soon they have at least 80 per cent Swiss men on board, means - of course - never.
Jim Ryan
We choked again First the Bloody Aussies flogged us and then the Swiss.
Andrew
"Alinghi win the cup by one second". Er, no, they won it by 3 races.
Mike
We definitely have to challenge again! We came so close this time particularly since the enormous difference in the budgets between the two teams made no difference. It showed that awesome sailing skill, teamwork, design and management on a modest budget can compete with megabucks. We didn't lose because we couldn't foot it with Alinghi, it was just a whisper of wind or a slightly different direction of wind, in most cases, that would have changed the outcome.
Bruce Fuller
America's Cup. When it comes down to the bottom line, the Kiwi's did win the America's Cup - but just not on the Emirates Team NZ boat!
Weary Akld Supporter
To those that say its a waste of taxpayers money. Think about what we spent and what we gained in terms of revenue for our country. We have benefited far more for our economy from what we got out of the America's Cup than what we put in. Go kiwis you boys did us very proud.
Behr (Manurewa, Auckland)
No, they only won because we made a few mistakes more than they did. I still think we have the best team.
Diana (Virginia)
I feel the kiwi crew did a brilliant job and they did New Zealand proud they are a credit to the nation. It just seemed that things just went against them, I hope that New Zealand will sail again. I am a kiwi living in Virginia but my heart is totally with New Zealand.
Kirsten (Auckland)
We should absolutely mount another America's Cup. The drama, the suspense, the incredible sense of pride I have seen for this country when some in conversation mentioned the cup challenge. Not even touching on the PR and how good it was for NZ to be there in the spot light. We had an awesome team that anyone would be proud to acknowledge as I know I am.
In the words of Sir Peter Blake...
"This doesn't happen just because you want it to. You need a Team of exceptional people who share the same dream and the same passion and are not scared even when odds are against them. It's the difficulty of the challenge that puts the adrenalin in your veins that may have been weakened by the previous defeat.
Rod
"I think I was a bit naive in 2003 when I won." The attitude/arrogance of the man. Shouldn't that be "we won"?
Danny &Yvonne Simms (Mangonui)
To Grant Dean & the boys, so much fantastic sailing, you really gave us some thrilling nights watching. Well done. We are coming over to watch next time. Go Kiwi.
Steve (Hamilton)
I'd like to see a justification for spending this money. Trevor mallard said on Morning report that he thought it was worth it - not a very secure basis upon which to spend so much money. And what do they do with $10 million over four years? Also, a friend of mine is representing New Zealand (in a real national side) in the masters hockey in Birmingham soon. She (and all the team) have to pay for their own airfares, lodgings, food etc. And not a cent from Government coffers, despite asking for this for years. How fair is that?
Auckland
Absolutely yes. No doubt about it.
Auckland
I am proud of the discipline, professionalism and superb sailing of our team against all odds, financial, political, physical, and psychological. As regards integrity and ability - they are winners by a mile. I hope they stay together and take that Cup next time round. I suspect that we'd have had to win by 5 mins every race to have forced an acceptance of a NZ Cup win, why did the jury acknowledge Alinghi in the wrong with our protest then not demand a penalty, but give a 50:50 penalty against us in the crucial race and insist we pay? Can 1 second truly be measured accurately on a theoretical line across a stretch of water with hulls lurching up and down? Sympathy to a superb team of real New Zealanders.
The sahib
We are not winning this race, or this Cup. Not this year, the next or ever. Not as long as we lack the killer instinct to go for the jugular and win. We have to aim to win! And not sail wimpy-like what our team is doing.
Marcus
If Brad "I'll win by any means necessary" Butterworth ever comes back to this country, either he works for TNZ or he is hung drawn and splattered in tar and feathers, and walked up Queen St. Oh well - bring on 2 years time when the cup holders don't have a boat full of New Zealanders.
Admitting (Switzerland)
As a Swiss citizen I definitely have to admit: it is quite strange, that the Alinghi team (mostly) consists of foreigners. At least, the boat was built in Geneva. The Swiss are very well aware of the fact, that the success is due to the excellent sailors from abroad! Of course we are proud, but nevertheless, the whole thing seems to be a little bit strange.
Marcus
Doesn't it just go to show, even though we didn't win, we still have the best sailors in the world. Surely that's something to be proud of? Go NZ.
Kiwi Lisa
Sadly so Team NZ didn't win back the AmCup all of us so much desired. But, we should still all be very proud of the great sailing Team NZ showed us. As true Kiwis Dean, Grant and the team never gave up but kept on fighting till the very last moment. It's further worth remembering that Team NZ were the better sportsman guys of the two. Furthermore it's extremely distressing to read reports in Herald Online that one of Alinghi's crew from a distance threatened to cut the Kiwis throats, even using a real knife. Such warrants an immediate apology from Alinghi's Italian dictator, Bernie, though it's pure fantasy to expect that from that corner. So, even that we lost the cup we did win the contest for best sportsmanship, by boat lengths.
John
Well Done New Zealand we won the America's Cup again! Except they are sailing under a Swiss flag. There are more New Zealanders on Alinghi than there are Swiss!! Bring in a nationality rule and Ernesto will be sailing by himself!
Juno
The race for the cup is now over. Now we can expect to see the America's Cup the race of 'Billionaires' No longer like the Olympic Games, friendly rivalry between nations. The America's Cup will become for the rich only and not for you and I. We think that the majority of ordinary people will eventually lose interest in the one-sided rules made to suit people like Ernesto Bertarelli. The pleasure of watching friendly rivalry will be gone!
Glenn White
A brilliant final race. We are proud of you team New Zealand
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