America's Cup: Team NZ claims overall honours

1.00pm

Team New Zealand has won the overall top prize for the first series of pre-America's Cup regattas.

NZL 81 finished second and scored a win in this morning's final two fleet races off Valencia.

Alinghi ended up winning Act three of the three regatta series in Marseilles and Valencia, with Team New Zealand claiming the overall win.

Regatta spokesman Marcus Hutchinson said to comeback to Europe with a back-up boat and to perform well is outstanding.

Hutchinson said for NZL 81 to win the Act two match racing series was good, but to also come back in the last few days and score wins in the fleet racing series was even better.

Hutchinson said the new-look New Zealand crew clicked very well and is probably surprised with the success.

He said the crew has coped remarkably well with the situation since the damage to NZL 82 a few weeks ago after a storm in Marseilles.

Meanwhile, the regatta organisers are delighted with the public response in Valencia.

Well over 50,000 spectators turned up dockside to watch the last fleet races of the Spanish regatta.

Hutchinson said officials were a little hesitant with Valencia, which will host the America's Cup itself in three years.

However, he said the standard of sailing and a large party atmosphere helped create a very good event.

Hutchinson said Team New Zealand certainly helped in the overall feel of the event and their success on the water has once again put New Zealand on the map.

The European boats now have a winter off, before the next regatta in June next year while Team New Zealand head home.

- Newstalk ZB