KEY POINTS:
Am I surprised Alinghi won the fleet racing regatta so easily? No. They had more to gain and nothing to lose compared to the challengers.
Emirates Team New Zealand used their older boat and it looked like the sails they used were not new. They also had Ben Ainslie helming.
Alinghi had a speed advantage in 12-14 knots-plus and we had those conditions for most of the regatta.
Because they've had so much time, maybe they pitched their boat for this regatta. I don't think the challengers had that luxury. But Alinghi sailed very, very well. They came back from some mediocre starts to win races.
I think it is a warning shot for the challengers that they need to do better.
The conditions have been unseasonably cold and quite windy. Not the conditions the America's Cup will be sailed in during June, so Team New Zealand's performance has to be put in that context.
I don't think NZL84 is strong in the upper wind ranges but they have quite a nice performance band a bit lower. In the first race on the final day, when the wind was a bit lighter up the first beat, the New Zealand boat looked quick - probably around the 9-10 knot range.
Ainslie did a good job.
He has made a huge contribution to the team so it was good to see him get a shot behind the wheel.
His performance in his first regatta - and it is always hard to sail these boats - was more than admirable.
Sure, there were a few mistakes but it takes time - just look back to 1992 when Russell Coutts took over from Rod Davis in the New Zealand Challenge. It is not easy.
The biggest disappointment for Team New Zealand was the serious hand injury to strategist Adam Beashel early in the regatta. It is unclear when and if he will back. His absence is a concern.
BMW Oracle Racing had a few problems. They had a shocker on Saturday with gear. They lost a sail over the side, they damaged the headfoil and couldn't get a genoa up.
It was interesting to see Mascalzone Latino finish third ahead of both Oracle and Luna Rossa.
Mascalzone's boat looks good.
The Spanish team Desafio Espanol also look good but they kept fouling out and making errors.
Luna Rossa raced their newest boat, ITA94, which looked good in the breeze but not so good in the light.
So that's it. The pre-regattas are over. Time for the real thing.
