KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
danny boy
Good on the Kiwis for being there if there vomitting in the streets then so be it. New Zealand always seems to come under fire for over use of the haka and now over zealous supporters we have every right to display our feelings and say our piece we by no means have the reputation of a rioting soccer crowd who start riots and injure helpless by-standers.I personally was gutted with our loss and ill preparation of a boat which could not handle the conditions our current team have enough monetary backing and practice time to get it right my confidence in dean barker will only be restored if they reclaim the Americas cup.We shouldnt have lost it in the first place.
aquarius (QLD Australia)
Why is it headlines if kiwi fans are misbehaving? Talk about double standards,you have them all around the world,take a look at the Europeans and the Aussies for an example. I dont really care what Ernesto says about kiwi fans,but he must realize that Kiwis all around the world(besides a few)will be united when it comes to sport especially. We are not sore losers,but we never forget! This America's cup is especially very dear to us,not because we lost in 2003 and want revenge,but how we lost and why?Its the traitors who went to Alinghi are the people I dont like and I dont blame the fans for reacting in that manner.To team New Zealand,good luck and dont let anyone break our kiwi spirit.
Sealegs
Please lets not go down the path of 2003 when Alinghi was booed to and from the dock. People leave businesses for many reasons - ask who made the most profit from the 2000 campaign and why we lost our top guys? Ernie just capitalised on the bad business management of our own Kiwi hero's greed. Get it in perspective - it's a money game not a national game. But go the Kiwis anyway! I'll be wearing black and waving my flag when I get there next week. I'm backing ETNZ but I also have the utmost respect for all the Kiwis on all the AC boats.
Kelvyn Alp
Why anyone would be "ashamed to be a New Zealander" because of the actions of a few small minded people who lack self-discipline is beyond me. It is not the country itself that brings us into disrepute, so instead of being ashamed to be a New Zealander, show others that we remain a proud and friendly nation of people that have a love and enthusiasm for life. A friendly smile towards a stranger holds more power than a drunken fool spouting nonsense. Go Kiwis.
Auckland
Yawwwwn!
So what, some rich dude is upset over some comments. Is that it? Really!
George (Kerikeri)
As a Swiss/New Zealand double citizen, I am getting a good view of both sides. At the last America's Cup, New Zealand as a sports nation got a lot of bad press in Europe, for being "unsportsmanlike" especially for the unfortunate "Black Heart" campaign and this whole "Loyal" business. I'm not talking about the Swiss press in particular, in fact they were quite tame compared to some other countries,only referring to the "Black Heart" campaign as " somewhat childish..." What saddened me was that NZ missed out of using this opportunity to showcase to the whole world its sailing ability and actually it's supremacy! So this time around, I hope that, with so many kiwis on so many boats, this opportunity will not again be wasted. Because, as the Swiss newspaper "Blick" stated: No matter who wins this America's Cup 2007, it will be Kiwis winning"
Zeke (Whangamata)
This is just all the more reason to bring the cup home.
Muzza
Interesting view point here from respected Bob Fisher about the Sabre Rattling going on.
http://www.sail-world.com/newstext/pda.cfm?Nid=34576&RequestTimeOut=180
quotes from article: "Bertarelli views the Team New Zealand intention as a slap in the face, an ungracious move because he loaned the Kiwis a large sum to kick-start it operation, but it is only changing the protocol to bring the event more in line with the original concept of 'friendly competition between foreign yacht clubs.' There are veritable droves of New Zealanders in Valencia to cheer on 'their team.' So far, there has been little visible support from Switzerland for Alinghi"Bertirelli sounds like a spoilt rich brat with no Swiss sailing talent or many Swiss supporters to call upon.
"willie "(Hamilton..Pharmacist in Frankton)
Loving the sparing to date in the early hours."The team obviously has the eye on the target.
patriot
Oderint dum metuant (let them hate, so long as they fear) - Accius, 170BC-86BC
pCb (Auckland)
Mr B has really thrown his toys out the cot hasn't he?? I seem to remember this depth of feeling being built by the public statements of Coutts and Butterworth when the cup came to Auckland. Get over yourselves guys. You're meant to be at the pinnacle of your sport so I assume you would know how to take a few knocks.However - should any fan start to act like a football fan I suppose a stay in a Spanish jail will be more than adequate.
Tick Tock (London)
"Its been 7 years, Let it go. Let it be."This comment by Alingi Boss Bertie, shows a distinct lack of knowledge or understanding of how the kiwi memory works.First thing brought up in a converstaion with Aussies ... Underarm Bowling
First thing brought up in a conversation with a Frenchman ... Rainbow Warrior First thing brought up in a conversation with a Swede will from here on in be ... salior poaching.We may not be able to influence the world stage to any great degree on a number of issues, if you piss us off we are unlikely to declare war on you; but world be warned if you think an elephant never forgets ... you have never met a kiwi with a sense being wronged under there belt.I for one would like to see justice served so then maybe we can all just forgive and forget.
John (Wellington)
I hear most of the noise from the Kiwi contingent, is coming from a bunch of try-hard drunk 40 something y/o females that took out second mortgages to afford the trip. That's what happens when you get too much cheap wine, sun and Dean Barker in your head - they wanna learn to hold their booze, and their big mouths, the mug's not here yet, and if they keep wingeing at Dean and the boys they're not going to have enough focus to win it. Ernesto's a great guy, he gave me a cool Alinghi tee shirt! the only time I felt uncomfortable wearing it was an occasion at a supermarket south of Auckland, when a mother walking-by carrying her kids sneered at me - ya gotta wonder about some people with too much spare time.
Danielle
I must admit I am no fan of Alinghi by any means because of the way they seem to obtain their employees and then give them the flick. I also think they are whingers for complaining about Team NZ having a different view on nationality to them. I am all for some good-natured ribbing but if people are behaving as badly as I have read in some comments by kiwis actually in Valencia, it is such a bad look for NZ. We shouldn't stoop to that vulgar level. Team NZ won't thank fans for behaving badly. They should be putting their efforts into supporting Team NZ, not wasting energy on Alinghi.
Sonia
Don't buy into Ernesto's game.All this does is take attention away from the sailing and the wonderful efforts of Emirates Team NZ. All the hype around the Loyal campaign last regatta cast an unpleasant shadow over the event and I would hate to see that happen here. We need positive support so nothing detracts from the Teams effort. Let them say what they want and prove them wrong rather than prove them right which is all this debate is doing.
ETNZ fsupporter
Bored Billionaire Bertarelli...poor Ernie, he must be rattled judging from his tanty in the New York Times. Don't feel left out folks, by being stuck back here in NZ missing out on all the psychological games going on in Valencia, You too TOO can show your 'support' for Alinghi by emailing either media@alinghi.com or friends@alinghi.com, Poor Ernie can then judge for himself the level of boorishness. Lol! Send those good luck ETNZ comments thick and fast to Alinghi.com (or is that Swiss.inc?) Its the sporting thing to do. and remember. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Ernie's will be just desserts.
Wytch
Judging the many on the actions of a few. Good grief.. this is sports and we're a passionate country.. are we really going to be vilified as a nation because some dude pukes in public or jeers at the competition? Get over it Mr B!
Barry
If our kiwi fans are really abusing our own fellow kiwi in Alinghi, then it's a shame if we win the cup. I certainly don't want to be a part of it and will not be proud if we win. Shame!
VG (Auckland)
I think the Kiwis should hold back a bit on their "enthusiasm" for the time being. We need to win the America's Cup, and then deservedly let lose a tirade of assorted comments on Alinghi. As another reader has commented, the AC is not so much a sport anymore, it is a business worth many hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Messers Bertarelli, Coutts, Butterworth et al made no attempt to hide their sniggering and mirth at our expense four years ago. They deserve every bit of what they are getting in return. However, we really do need to tone down our wild comments and insults quite a bit and behave like gentlemen/ladies. Do not stoop to their level, I say. We do not want to jinx Team New Zealand!
Kim H (Sydney)
A shameful, embarrassing display by a bunch of drunken NZ yobbos. Let Team NZ clean up the Cup first, then they can revel in victory of sportsmanship over money. Valencia must seem like Queen St on a Friday night back in the 1970's.
Jimi (A.C.T, Australia)
Get over it! They are just having fun. Good on them. I live in Oz and they're very passionate. Their fans are pretty hard core. They are English football fans and all around the world so just get over it. Good luck Team New Zealand.
Leoni (Auckland)
Hey Mr Bertarelli, the boot is on the other foot now. We have got sponsors (Emirates, Toyota, Estrella Damm), we have got good sailors(Deano, Terry and co) and we have got a good head of the Challenge (Grant Dalton), and we have some of the proudest and loudest Kiwis on the earth and we know how to have a good time without whinging. Keep on going guys and show these Swiss and Swiss Kiwis how to do it.
LV Martin (UK)
Have the fans who are abusing Alinghi's Kiwi sailors in Valencia considered that these men are some of the toughest America's Cup winners that New Zealand has ever produced? Firstly, you will only make them more determined to win, and secondly, you are hardly encouraging them to consider returning to Team New Zealand in the future!
Lady B
I'm a Kiwi who has been living and working in Switzerland for the past 35 years. In 2003 I came back to New Zealand for 2 months to support the "black boat" in the America's Cup. I was however, dismayed at that time at the feelings of animosity towards Coutts and co. and at the "Blackheart" campaign, which whiffed of the pre-war Germany of the late 30s. I found it intolerant and threatening. For this reason I decided to support Alinghi instead, disappointed that many of my fellow New Zealanders, generally well-known for their sporting fairness, should behave in such an untypical manner. Let's hope that Bertarelli is only seeing ghosts from the past and that Kiwi fair play will prevail in Valencia.
Kano
Berterelli has done nothing to add to ethos of the America's Cup. It appears to the lay person that the Swiss won the cup initially through poaching key personnel from Team NZ winnings campaign. The AC should rightfully return to the winning syndicate's home nation. It is not therefore rightfully Europe's nor should it be Team NZ's for that matter. Foremost the AC is about country vs country. You just need to look at the annuls of history to see this.
True blue
So Ernesto is upset with Kiwi fans. Sounds like he and his team are rattled. And he is indulging in a little psychological warfare, which - excuse the pun - won't wash. If Kiwi fans are acting like boorish louts in Valencia then Bertarelli should provide evidence. Put up or shut up. I think it has more to do with the actual size of ETNZ's support in Valencia, which is most likely his beef. For the record, I haven't forgotten his raid on Team NZ in 2000. This guy wiped his boots on NZ and expects us, the little bucolic peasants of the south seas to, 'Let it go. Let it be'. Sorry, no can do. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Jared
Ernesto Bertarelli's comments are predictable from a man who believes those with money should control everything. The America's Cup has historically been and should remain a sporting contest between nations, not wealthy playboys who want to assemble a team of mercenaries at what ever price it takes to overcome their consciences. A paid back loan does not give Bertarelli the right to hold sway over Team NZ, and influence any cup related decisions we might have the power to make should we be good enough to win it back.
Bertarelli has ruined the spirit of America's cup which should be about national pride and sailing excellence, by changing the rules to suit his team in conjunction with Ellison, who is of a similar elk. There should be a nationality rule that limits the number of non-national sailors on syndicates, but does not eliminate them. The surplus of talented Kiwi sailors would not be out of work as Bertarelli predicts, but would instead be more fairly spread around the other teams. The Swiss flag on the Alinghi boat is a farcical attempt to pretend that Switzerland is being represented. The appropriate flag for the true spirit of Alinghi would have a picture of Bertarelli surrounded by $ or ¬ signs.
RoznOz
Sour Grapes! Designed to upset TNZ won't work. We're gonna whop ya! Our kiwis against your kiwis. The Cup's comin home. Go boys, go get it. Utu.
Simon (Vancouver)
I think what these overly proud Kiwis are forgetting is that the America's Cup race is not about one country competing against another, rather it's about one syndicate competing another. It just so happens that New Zealand can only afford one shot at it. It's all about money; whoever has the most money can buy the best team and the best equipment. The sponsors flock in behind these strong teams.
Jimmi
Judging by the Alinghi whinging, NZ success has already prevailed. The more that fans can get under the skin and in the heads of Alinghi sailors the better. No need to get nasty but give them hell! How about chanting "Losers!" or "Money!" as Alinghi sail by the dock?
JR (Wellington)
Let's not fool ourselves. The America's Cup has nothing to do with sport. It's an extremely competitive and profitable business, especially for the winner.
Misty Mista
What goes around comes around! I think everyone in Team Alinghi is starting to s--- bricks really, knowing Team NZ have lifted up their acts and have brought the battle back to Alinghi's porch. Mr Alinghi can't staple people's mouths. Everybody has a right to voice their opinions. If Alinghi is so good in their acts, they should concentrate on their sailing rather than paying attention to what people have to say about them. I guess kiwis can speak about the losers who ran away to join Alinghi for a few bucks and they definitely don't matter to NZ anymore. Grow up Alinghi - "everything is fair in love and war".
Arnie FB
With the number of Kiwis sailing for Alinghi isn't it Pacific Kiwis against European Kiwis (and with Oracle it was US Kiwis). If the nationality rules are tightened will it apply to sponsorship as well. I hope not as there goes Emirates and Toyota to another team - perhaps they should all concentrate on sailing.
Rosemary
How many of these people who say Bertarelli is right also agree with him when he says if we win the cup we should not hold it here in NZ, due to the Europeans thinking NZ is not important enough to them commercially. If so why don't you go and live with him. I think on his part it is sour grapes. I have heard about the way Kiwis are acting over there, good on them, they are giving them a good old Kiwi rev up. I have been watching the news and have see that Alingi has been blowing sails while practicing. When we win the cup, I would like to see what the same sad asses have to say in your views.
Andrew Clifford
Earlier this year I heard Brad Butterworth make an Alinghi presentation to one of their main sponsors. He is a professional sailor just like other NZ professional sportsmen. Team NZ fans should not give any Alinghi team member a hard time. The problem is that NZ public get too worked up about losing and lack maturity to lose gracefully. Remember how they trashed the All Blacks in 1998 during dark, transition times? We will be at Valencia supporting Team NZ 100 per cent in a few days - but I am worried that the behaviour of other fans will make NZ an embarrassment to support instead!
Greg, Aucklander in the UK
It seems the Swiss really do believe that they can buy the loyalty and gratitude of anybody. It must come as a shock to discover that not everyone is a mercenary who sells out for a few Francs.
David Innes
I think many New Zealanders, including me have long memories for what Coutts, Butterworth et.al did. Not so much for jumping ship, but for doing it in a way calculated to create maximum difficulties for the 'loyalists' who stayed behind. If they're getting grief from the Kiwis flooding into Valencia, they've only themselves to blame. But I suspect this is just another 'mind game' on Alinghi's part to try and unsettle ETNZ. Ignore them Deano and the team. Go the 'real' Kiwis!
Kiwi from Vancouver (Canada)
I truly hope this is not the start of a mud slinging campaign by either race team. We have enough of that in so many other sports that it is slowly taking all the real fun and sportsmanship out of world activities. Both teams should concentrate on what is ahead of them in a few more days. Let's have a great America's Cup final.
Peter (Melbourne)
I don't condone too much nastiness in supporting sport, but though Mr Bertarelli has enough money to do his own thing, to New Zealand this was and is more than a club challenge. That is why we in addition to sponsors have New Zealand in the team name and put taxpayer money into supporting the team. We have some of the best sailors in the world - which is why they are in demand but we expect first pick. So nobody can go around dictating what we feel. New Zealanders felt these sailors who helped take the cup from NZ let us down and we probably always will - one day they may redeem themselves in our eyes but they have done nothing to do so yet, but good on them for earning the big money. As Kiwis they can always come back to NZ if they want to.
Dave
I recall Dennis Conner, the "Mr America Cup" himself and his public comment on TV. "Get off, this stage is for winners". I think it is best ignored as a possible shoddy indication of a desire to win. There's always that bit of 'acid' which creeps in - not nice really. Competitors should be gracious in defeat.
Ben
It would be a real shame if Team NZ fans are slating the Kiwi's sailing for Alinghi. They really need to get over it and move on, everyone else has.
Dinesha Richardson
Team Alingi have to expect a certain amount of heckling. They did betray their country for money and personal differences. I do not imagine that the so called abuse is any worse than what goes on at ruby matches. I find the sailors who left Team New Zealand to very small minded, placing their greed ahead of New Zealand's glory. So although this heckling could be considered petty maybe they are getting their just deserts.
Kiwi (Sydney)
So the rest of the world is getting nervous because NZ might reinstate the nationality rule. Why the hell not? In the future the defender series will be more exciting than the challenger series! Kiwis made up the numbers in most syndicates and yet Team NZ still produce a team a few years after getting whipped (ironically by other NZers) that looks like regaining the cup, fantastic I say. What depth we have. The yanks bent the rules for decades to keep the cup. A country with 50 times the population of NZ, and others are moaning about the influence a country of 4 million odd people might have. Give me a break! If it means we have an advantage that keeps the cup in NZ for years that brings money into NZ and increases jobs, tourism, NZ awareness then why not? Let us do the bullying for a change.
W.Smith (Wellington)
Supporters of Emirates Team New Zealand should be thankful for the financial sponsorship that their syndicate has enjoyed, regardless of the origin of that support (Emirates, Ernesto, Toyota, Estrella, NZ Government). As the syndicates involved in the 2007 America's Cup are multi-national in composition, any boorish behaviour like the 2003 Blackheart campaign is self-serving hypocrisy (we accept money from any source but don't accept that the individual competitors are entitled to be employed by any syndicate). The comments by Ernesto and Grant show they at least have an appreciation of these sponsors and the wider financial implications, so good luck to both syndicates for the America's Cup Final. Does the Auckland Viaduct deserve more scenes like those displayed by some locals in 2003? Make those on board Oracle or Alinghi feel 'uncomfortable' because they weren't part of the locally based syndicate - that really worked 5-nil. It's big-business sport and the rules allow for personnel transfers. New Zealand should embrace all of its competitors (in particular - Russell Coutts, Chris Dickson, Dean Barker) in the history of this event.
Phil
Who gives a toss what Bertarelli thinks? The only reason he 'lent' the money was because he was initially concerned about the credibility of an America's Cup based in Europe with no national teams. It was also to enable him to do what he is doing now, which is bring it up in the heat of competition. That really shows how far the standards of conduct have fallen. In the history of the Cup such gentlemen's arrangements are not unusual. What is unusual is for them do be discussed in this manner particularly after the debt has been settled. Ernesto is highlighting a problem with the Cup when he speaks of nationality. The only challengers to have aroused national interest back home in their own country has been Italy and NZ, which both used teams comprised of mainly citizens of that country. He has made the Cup irrelevant to the public since he corporatised it and that needs to be fixed.
Peter McAlley
I was as disappointed as anyone when Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth et al went to Alinghi. However, sailing is what they do best and their money-earning capacity at the top of the sport is limited. Once sportsmen have fallen into the 'once were great' strata the majority of people forget about them and move on to the next crop of heroes. Small thanks for all they have achieved. I think that we should only be extremely proud of all New Zealanders sailing in this great event. What other country has been able to produce so many in the top echelon? All credit and kudos to the Alinghi team. It's time the small-minded idiots who decry them got on with life and started enjoying this great spectacle instead of whinging so much.
Kiwi boy
Well we are loyal to our colours, are all black bloods thru & thru. We are a nationalistic side, unlike most others. As a nation that have competed on the world stage for ever, had a probably unhealthy preoccupation of Us vs them, but therein lies our pride, of what keeps us strong & united as Kiwi's, like it or not! The NZers on Alinghi chose the big money Swiss over the poor but proud Kiwis. This was a slap in the face for many of us and it hurt. If Alinghis rat-fink Kiwi defectors don't like the sledging coming there way, "oh dear how sad". It's been seven years a brewing. Just think of the seven pieces of silver you sold US out for and get over it! Cos us loyal black bloods eventually will too - right after we kick your Alinghi butts.
Chris (Christchurch)
Let's not get too carried away. How are the teams called again? Emirates Team NZ and Alinghi. There's no Team NZ and no team Switzerland. This is not country against country, it's syndicate against syndicate. It's big business - for all the sponsors such as Emirates or the Swiss bank UBS, for Valencia and possibly again for Auckland. I wonder whether Team NZ should really be seen as a Kiwi team even though most team members are kiwis. The money it runs on comes from somewhere else. Alinghi though has mostly non-Swiss team members but most money is from Switzerland. To run a team you must have A) team members and B) money. Add it up and the picture gets a bit more blurred. To all these people who always say no one in Switzerland is interested in Alinghi - it's wrong. A lot of people I know got up at night to watch the America's Cup live from Auckland and Alinghi was topic no.1 during that time. Of course, NZ is a traditional sailing nation - but just putting things into perspective here.
Blakenz
The mind games begin. If he wasn't concerned about ETNZ he wouldn't bother saying anything. Smacks of him trying to win support. Why would you need support unless you felt threatened? Antagonise the challengers to get their mind off the racing. Didn't Connor try this in Freemantle to get effect? Dalton is too smart for that.
D. Christie (Melbourne, Australia)
At the end of the day, Team New Zealand doesn't owe Bertarelli anything. He was generous enough to make the loan, but TNZ settled its account - end of story. Bertarelli also seems to have forgotten that the Cup holder traditionally rewrites the rules to its own advantage and has done so since time immemorial (whether that be the New York Yacht Club, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron or the Societe Nautique de Geneve). Therefore, if the Kiwis win, they will be perfectly entitled to adjust the rules as they see fit. Bertarelli (and other European teams) at the end of the day can threaten all they like to boycott the next defence if TNZ wins. If they do, it will merely open the door for challengers from other parts of the world Australia, South-East Asia, China, Japan, and the United States (that is, genuine American yachtsmen, not those Kiwi pretenders from Oracle!) - to challenge for the Cup. The America's Cup will survive both Bertarelli and Alinghi and continue to go from strength to strength. Go Kiwis!
LNM, Kiwi in Germany
I am a Kiwi through and through and support all NZ sports and sometimes you get upset when you lose or things don't go your way. But I think of myself as a good sport and it annoys me to hear that Kiwis' abroad are shaming our good name! However, as far as I can see the AC is all about money not skill! Money buys you the best sports people and it just so happens that NZers are among the best sailors on the planet. I think that a team should be made up of 70 per cent nationals and if you want the top people put your money into training and supporting your own country's up and coming sports people and stop poaching other teams' best people. Mr Bertarelli must be worried his crack team of Kiwis is not as good as New Zealand's crack team of Kiwis. C'mon Emirates Team New Zealand! The Genuine Article!
Noel
For me the issue is not the Allinghi boss but the decision by the "Kiwis" who chose to jump ship, with money the motivation. It's about personal values. Would Richie McCaw play for the Wallabies? Team NZ is a national NZ effort by any definition. If the guys choose to join the competition then they must accept the criticism. "Get over it" sure but don't expect me to admire the guys that let my country down.
Next